[Electric Violin] Trying Out the PLAYTECH PSV100BR

If you have a little interest in electric violins but are hesitant to take the plunge, or if you want to know what the texture and volume of this instrument are really like, a string instrument specialist has written a review after trying out this instrument. I hope you find it helpful!

PLAYTECH / PSV100BR Electric Violin 4/4 Size Brown

This time, I have the PLAYTECH electric violin PSV100BR, which is recommended for beginners. The color is brown. It comes with everything you need to get started with an electric violin, including a bow, shoulder rest, case, rosin, connecting cable, headphones, tuner, and cloth.

Photos of the PSV100BR

Here’s what the PSV100BR looks like:

Upon closer look, you can see the wood grain through the translucent matte finish, giving it a beautiful appearance

The shoulder rest can be easily attached without any issues

In the center of the back of the instrument, there’s a control box

You can also see the wood grain in the pegbox

Soundcheck

Using the PSV100BR, I recorded the natural sound without any processing. It has a clean, clear tone.

Here’s how it actually sounds:

While it might be hard to tell from the recording, the actual volume is quite a bit lower compared to an acoustic violin. This means you could play it without much concern for noise, as long as you’re not playing at full volume in an apartment.

Trying Out the Accessories

The included accessories are as shown in the photo: bow, shoulder rest, case, rosin, connecting cable, headphones, tuner, and cloth.

Bow, Case, Headphones, Connecting Cable, Cloth

The bow, case, headphones, connecting cable, and cloth can be used as they are, so there aren’t any particular issues with them. Especially after playing the instrument, it’s a good idea to use the cloth to wipe it down, keeping it clean for storage.

Shoulder Rest

The shoulder rest may not fit perfectly right out of the box. You might need to adjust its position to fit your shoulder. Adjust the fork member (the part that attaches to the shoulder rest) to suit your shoulder. You can find detailed instructions on how to attach it in the manual on the product page, so be sure to check that out.

Tuner

To use the tuner, insert a CR2032 coin battery into the back, then press and hold the power button for more than two seconds to turn it on. Clip it onto the headstock, scroll end, or pegbox to pick up sound. Each time you press the button on the bottom of the screen, the tuning mode changes. For violin tuning, select the middle ‘V’ option to tune.

Rosin

New rosin tends to be smooth and bumpy. To make it easier to apply, you can sand the surface flat with sandpaper. When you see a white powder appear on the surface, just rub the bow hair on it to coat the bow with rosin.

Preamp Battery

The preamp battery for this PSV100BR (006P rectangular 9V battery) is sold separately. It’s advisable to keep a spare on hand as well.

Various Sets Available!

There are also other set options available!

PLAYTECH / PSV100BR Electric Violin 4/4 Beginner Set II Brown

PLAYTECH / PSV100BR Electronic Violin 4/4 Introductory Amp Set Brown

A similar set is available in black!

PLAYTECH / PSV100BK Electric Violin 4/4 Black

PLAYTECH / PSV100BK Electric Violin 4/4 Beginner Set II Black

PLAYTECH / PSV100BK Electronic Violin 4/4 Introductory Amp Set Black

What do you think? After trying out the electric violin, I found it to be more enjoyable than I expected. If you’ve never touched a violin or feel intimidated about starting an instrument, I highly recommend considering the electric violin!