Realist RV4E 4-String Electric-Acoustic Violin
Realist RV4E 4-String Electric-Acoustic Violin
Get Electrified with Realist RV4E Violin
Crafted in Europe and meticulously adjusted at the David Gage shop in New York City, the Realist RV4E offers an unmatched balance of quality and performance at an accessible price point. This standard model integrates David Gage’s legendary transducer system directly into a traditional acoustic body, providing a seamless transition for violinists who need to plug in without changing the physical feel of their instrument.
Why It Excels for Performing Musicians
Integrated David Gage Transducer: Built around our absolute favorite pickup system, the transducer is mounted directly under the bridge feet. It captures authentic string vibration right from the source, minimizing the harsh "plastic" tone common in lesser electrics.
Dual Sonic Personality:
Acoustically: It projects a nice, warm, and highly dependable tone—perfectly adequate for everyday practice and around-the-house playing.
Amplified: It transforms. The passive system unlocks a richer, more complex, and deeply interesting tone ready for the stage or the studio.
Discrete Stage Aesthetics: The output jack and onboard volume knob are hidden away on the backplate. From the front, your audience sees a gorgeous, traditional acoustic violin, allowing you to maintain a classic stage look while getting electrified.
Pure Passive Simplicity: No batteries to worry about. Just plug into an amplifier, preamp, or soundboard and enjoy immediate, feedback-resistant volume control at your fingertips.
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
