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I also posted this on the Fiddlerman Facebook page, but thought, "why not post here, eh?"
A little background. I played violin as a kid from 7 to 14, and fell out of love with it due to an instructor who was less that interested in teaching, and more inclined to ridicule those he decided he didn't like. It was pretty much a bummer as for 7 years of my life I went from last chair second violin to first chair first violin in our symphonic orchestra. Regardless, I decided it simply wasn't worth dealing with the insults of being one of "those kids" who rented one of the school instruments instead of being able to purchase a rather expensive instrument. Single-parent families have to be cautious with their income, and that purchase just wasn't in the cards.
At 16, I got a job, earned some money and moved on to bass guitar, and have since enjoyed that instrument for about 24 years. Now, I'm looking at getting back into violin, and was considering a Cecilio, because the investment would be very little for something I would be doing solely to enjoy the instrument myself. My basses are what I do for commercial gain. I want an instrument to work with strictly for grins.
What I would like to know is, because the 1/8 to 1/4" connection and supplied cable looks less than optimal (I use Monster Cables with my Fender Jazz Basses, and believe me, there is a difference), does the Cecilio lend itself well to putting (even externally) a 1/4" Switchcraft jack in place of the 1/8 out?
Even if I have to create a small external compartment to house the jack, route and run the wires to it, I'd prefer that.
If not, I'll likely just go with an acoustic violin and save for something with a 1/4" or XLR out.
Any thoughts?
One wonders if the damage would have been as severe had the chicken not been tied to the barrel.
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Welcome to the forum artroland! I have a Cecilio e-violin and have wondered about this too. I use a Monster cable with a 1/4 to 1/8 inch adapter for the Cecilio pick up. It sounds good but when I get good enough to bring this on the stage with me I wouldn't want to rely on the 1/8 inch. You have me thinking about changing out either the whole pick up or see if it can be converted. It does sound nice and has a tone control as well as volume control plus has multiple outputs but all 1/8 inch.
Another option would be just to get an acoustic violin and as long as it is just for the enjoyment for yourself right now. I have a acoustic Cecilio too (3) and I bought a wrap around pick up that sounds great and 1/4 inch jack 
It's called TheBand made by Headway and to tell you the truth, I havn't even pick up my e-violin for a couple weeks now. But the Cecilio e-violin I have does sound great too.
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I don't know a thing about the cables you guys are talking about. 
LOL I just wanted to welcome you to the forum artroland. 
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I was a little surprised as well that they chose to put a 1/8 " jack but I guess if it is only used for an active signal it can't make too much difference. Your idea of changing the jack isn't a bad one. Another option would be to invest in a very high quality handmade 1/8" to 1/4" cable. That might be as good.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Is it possible to open the body up where the 1/8" jack goes and remove it, enlarge the hole for a 1/4" jack and solder the two wires and re-assemble it? If I remember from the review video the jack is mounted vertically, will a 1/4" jack fit vertically in the body? I am thinking you could modify the body of the violin to accept the larger jack with out worrying about changing the sound of the instrument.
Just thinking out loud.
Dave
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The problem with mounting a 1/4" jack there, I would think, would be that it's very close to the other two jacks, and to drill that area out another 1/4" and then secure a jack there, would leave very little room for much else once you get the nut and the washer in there. Plus, you don't know what is inside the control compartment just yet.
As far as doing it outboard, I'd have to have one directly in hand to be sure, but I've seen smaller electrical compartments at little box electronics stores that could be attached underneath, and have the wires routed from where the 1/8 jack is to the box with a shielded wrap on it.
The difference in cables has to deal with the quality of copper (and audio transparency), the shielding, etc. If you were playing this violin (or any other electric instrument, like a bass, a guitar, etc) in an environment with the potential for high electrical interference (signage, close to power lines, or around other amplified instruments) the signal will not be as clean.
I know Monster sells a 1/8" male to 1/4" female 18" cable, so maybe I'll look into that. At $20 it'd be about the same price as re-routing would cost.
Another question. How quiet is an electric violin played acoustically?
One wonders if the damage would have been as severe had the chicken not been tied to the barrel.
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artroland said:
Another question. How quiet is an electric violin played acoustically?
It is comparable to an electric guitar played acoustically. A little louder though because of the extra vibrations created by bowing the instrument. Depends on how aggressively you play as well. Probably depends on how solid the fiddle is too.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Just one more comment on this...I do have Monster 1/8 to 1/4 (visa.versa) but believe me if you are on a stage, an 1/8 inch input/output can get nudged a little and you won't have any electric connection.
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So true. Maybe it would be ideal to mount a velcro fastener somewhere on the fiddle to keep the cable from accidentally getting yanked on.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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That's a good idea Fiddlerman... I always have a role of velcro, duct tape and a small tool kit when I play live gigs.
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With a bass guitar, you simply loop the cable through the strap and let it drop out the back. With a Wood, you have a strap you could do this with, and I think you do with a Zeta, as well. With this one, not so much, so looping it through something like that would be a good idea.
Another idea would be to get a small clip and attach it to your cable, and clip it to your clothing.
I think if you had a wireless unit, you might be better off, though, as instead of a cable hanging from you, it would only hang as low as the transmitter unit on your belt clip.
Which introduces other issues, such as the fairly compressed sound introduced by some wireless units.
Around the tree we go ... LOL.
One wonders if the damage would have been as severe had the chicken not been tied to the barrel.
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