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Hey there!
I played the violin about 6 years ago for 2 years, but now I want to start again - this time electric!
Figuring out which violin to buy is very hard for me, as I know just about nothing about violins. However, I have been searching a lot and come down to these 4:
a) HARLEY BENTON HBV 870BK 4/4 E-VIOLINE
b) HARLEY BENTON HBV 840BK 4/4 E-VIOLINE
c) the Cecilio CEVN-1BK silent electric
d) and the Cecilio CEVN-2BK silent electric
I don't even know what the names mean (what's the difference between 870 and 840? etc.) 
and I'm not sure if the last two names are correct, but I'm guessing that c is the one Fiddlerman made a review of?
Anyway, if I could get some advice and guiding here, I would appreciate it 
Also shout if you have any other suggestions when it comes to violins I could purchase in the price range 
Here's some links to the violins I have listed:
a) http://www.thomann.de/gb/harle.....ioline.htm
b) http://www.thomann.de/gb/harle.....ioline.htm
c) http://www.ceciliomusic.com/ca.....p-153.html
d) http://www.ceciliomusic.com/ca.....p-158.html
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Roflwaffle - The 4 violins that you listed are basically two violins but with different shapes. If the weight was different I would suggest of the two that you get the lightest but the weight appears to be 700 grams on both. Didn't see the weight listed on the Cecilio.
I haven't tested the Harleys but I have a feeling the Piezo microphone is the same on them. I also like the tailpieces with the built in fine tuners on the Harleys and the 1/4 inch output as apposed to the 16th" on the Cecilio. I don't like the tone control having a slide. I could imagine that slide accidentally moving during a concert 
I believe that the choice would be a matter of taste rather than quality but can't be certain without having played on the Harleys. Let us know which fiddle you end up ordering.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Hey Roflwaffle,
I bought the Cecilio brand e-violin a couple weeks ago and I'm happy with it. I'm a beginner on violin. I have been playing guitar for a long time so I have many guitar effects that make it sound pretty darn good. The output being 1/4 inch on the Harley would be nice to have. My Cecilio came with 1/8 inch outputs so I'm a little confused by Fiddlermans' pickup being only 1/16th on the output? I have tons of 1/8" to 1/4 "adapters so really no big deal but when you want to record, the less adaptors the better when you have a ton of electric stuff plugged into all the outlets.
Does Cecilio make both 1/8" and the 1/16" outputs Pierre? Anyway's Roflewaffle Hope you get a violin again soon. It's really a cool instrument.
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Sorry man, MY BAD, I meant to say 8th size. LOL
Would have preferred having a quarter inch output on the Cecilio.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I sort of thought you meant 8th" but sound companies did and still do in China make 16th" which degrades the sound going down the electric avenue. It's tough to deal with it in a recording studio to have so may adaptors and florescent lighting and so on.
Just got my Cecilio CEVN-1BK. First impression are that it isn't too bad for the money. The bow for me leaves a lot to be desired. The tail piece and fine tuners do not match. Either the tuners are too short or the tail piece is too big. Ehen you try to use the fine tuners, the ferrel on the string is right against the tailpiece with the screw out all the way. The nut has a chip out of it and the E string is extremely close to the fingerboard. The neck feels a little thick to me and it is a little on the heavy side. I also do not like the 1/8 output but it does work. All that being said it works and it is a good deal for the money. I'll change out the tailpiece, the nut and the strings.The sound is much better played through my amp into a good set of head phones. I have a pair of Sony ear buds from quite awhile ago that I'll have to try out. They have always sounded the best to me.
Think about it this way,
you get a case, a lesson book with DVD and CD, a bow that works, head phones to give to your kids and a violin for 130. Cant' beat that
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My thoughts exactly. Happy that you are satisfied with it. I've noticed after having received 8 instruments from Cecilio, they differ very much from one craftsman to another. It is obvious that the makers or assemblers do this fast on an assembly line but the overall quality and value for the money is incredible.
I just received 3 violas a few hours ago and will be doing some reviews but I can tell you that the sound quality on the CVA-600 is great. They should toss those bows and give one decent bow instead of two bad ones. There are some small flaws such as the end pin sticking out way too much. The soundpost was cut and set crooked. I don't dare straighten this one cause the feet are perfectly flat. LOL
I just imagine how much better it would sound with a perfectly fitted sound-post.
The bridge was sanded at an angle on just one side towards the top to the right thickness and kind of looks ridiculous, but it works.
Obviously the instrument would sound better with synthetic core strings too.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
I changed the strings on my Cecileo electric yesterday. I put on a set of Start Right Strings. I think I paid around $10.00 for them. I put them on the violins I repair for the kids. They are perlon core and to me I like the sound. They took the tin sound out of the electric and I am pleased with the sound now. The only problem with Start Right strings is they run out of violin strings quickly. I noticed they had a set of viola strings for $12.00 today.
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Kevin M. said
I changed the strings on my Cecileo electric yesterday. I put on a set of Start Right Strings. I think I paid around $10.00 for them. I put them on the violins I repair for the kids. They are perlon core and to me I like the sound. They took the tin sound out of the electric and I am pleased with the sound now. The only problem with Start Right strings is they run out of violin strings quickly. I noticed they had a set of viola strings for $12.00 today.
Do you still use the Start Right Strings, Kevin? I bought a set and they sounded "dead" to me. I'm also having issues with my bow not "grabbing" the string, even though it's got plenty of rosin. Do they take time to settle-in, or anything else I'm not considering?
(sorry for dredging up an old forum thread, but it popped up in an internet search for reviews on the strings in question)
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Hi there! I have bought an Harley Benton HBV 870 and I can say that, beside the bad strings and bridge, the biggest problem remains the one with the pickup... the G string doesn't sound well... like it has no bass on it, no low tone sound on it1 if enyone knows how to fix it, please help me!
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You should return it Chris! You shouldn't have to settle with those issues.
Hey if anyone with a solid-body EV is looking for input on amps, you have to check out the Yamaha THR10! Just got one about 3 weeks ago and it is SPECTACULAR! It sounds great plugged into A/C; has some spectacular affects; sound volume and quality are great for a room as large as 20'x20'; AND if you want to take it outdoors where there's no juice, it sounds just as good on batteries. I picked up a NS NXT 4 string unfretted about 5 weeks ago and had been using a VOX headphone amp which was handy but didn't sound very good.
How do guys dig up topic's that are a year old or older, sometime's I can't find one from yesterday. 
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Yeah Ken, I was surprised to see the date this thread was originally posted too. I think people are trying to be conscientious about starting new threads for topics that have already been posted. That's my guess. I used to do that too but then just decided, if the post is very old, I might as well just start my own and make it current.
But in any case, the topic is a good one and the post is poignant.
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@ sp@wn
You might want to return it as ftufc said but if you can't you may want to try changing the G string. It sounds like yours might be false, flat, dead.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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It's pretty bad when you buy a violin, then have to change the tailpiece, the strings, the bridge, the nut, and then reset the soundpost...
wouldn't you be money ahead if you just built your own from scratch??
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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