Realist RV4 PRO Series 4-String String Electric-Acoustic Violin
Realist RV4 PRO Series 4-String String Electric-Acoustic Violin
From Realist in New York City, the Realist Electric-Acoustic violin brings performance-level sound to the electric milieu. The Pro Series offers premier Carpathian tonewoods and Instant-Active Technology. 90 second charge brings 48 hours of active, low-impedance, output. Dual tone controls: volume and gain are onboard giving the player immediate control to deliver a hotter signal. Built in Europe, adjusted in New York City, these instruments offer perfect quality and responsive tone played either acoustically or electrically. Available in both four or five strings, the RV4 and RV5 have a convenient jack located unobtrusively on the backplate. Tone is captured with a built-in Realist transducer.
The Realist Pro Series is a premium, high-output instrument engineered specifically for professional stage use, studio tracking, and advanced players who refuse to compromise on tone or power. Starting with an acoustic foundation of premium European Carpathian tone woods, this instrument pairs a world-class acoustic resonance with David Gage's cutting-edge Instant Active (IA) electronics.
Advanced Pro-Level Features
Instant Active (IA) System: This active system features an onboard power circuit that generates a much hotter signal with immense active gain. It does not rely on an external preamp or sound system power, allowing for a bigger, bolder, and more beautifully complex tone at high performance volumes.
Revolutionary 2-Minute Quick Charge: Forget changing standard batteries mid-gig. The Pro Series features an advanced internal system that takes just two minutes to charge and provides a massive 24 hours of continuous play time.
On-the-Fly Active/Passive Switch: Ultimate performance flexibility is built right in. With a simple, tactile flick of an onboard switch, you can instantly convert the violin from a high-gain active powerhouse to a traditional passive system.
Carpathian Tone Wood Foundation: Unlike generic electric violins, the Pro Series sounds spectacular even when unplugged. The European Carpathian tone woods deliver a deeply rich, nuanced, and luxurious acoustic tone that excels during unplugged rehearsals.
Stealth Electronics Profile: All advanced components, including the jack and control knobs, are tucked away safely out of sight. It preserves a pristine acoustic silhouette on stage while delivering modern, high-voltage stadium projection.
Two color options are available: “Frantique” and “Black” Frantique gives the violin an old-world aged appearance with gentle shading in a Italianate color tone. The Black offers a translucent dark tone.
Instruments are set up with Wittner Fine-Tune pegs and Thomastik-Infeld Vision strings.
Realist Releases New 4- & 5-String Violins
“The Realist Violin, from David Gage String Instruments, is the newest addition to the growing acoustic-electric violin market. A Realist Pickup, developed by Gage and electric-instrument designer Ned Steinberger, is inlaid in the top of a four- or five-string violin under the bass foot of the bridge. The output jack is mounted in a corner block in back, out of sight and out of the way (a right-angle patch cord works best). The volume-control knob, conveniently located in the rib of the treble c-bout is easy to reach and cleverly camouflaged with violin varnish. No batteries or preamp are necessary; the Realist’s passive electronics send a clean signal directly to your amp or sound board.
Strings tested the RV-4 four-string violin and the RV-5 Pro five-string. Pro and regular models use the same Realist electronics, but the pro-model instruments are made with more expensive wood and better varnish for improved sound quality. Both violins were nicely set up, easy to play, and showed careful attention to bridge and fingerboard. The RV-4 had a warm, easy sound, remarkably good for the price point, while the Pro-model five-string had a big, rich tone.
The amplified sound was natural and true to the instrument. All models ship with a case and come with quality ebony fittings, Despiau Superieur bridges, Wittner or Thomastik tailpieces, and Thomastik-Infeld Vision strings.” —Strings Magazine review by Erin Shrader
