Hello!

I've recently decided to learn how to play an electric violin and I have not yet purchased a violin but I am brand new. So, I don't know what to look for in the violin or anything. I need something inexpensive but still can produce the sounds I want.

I was looking on places like amazon and e-bay and I got a lot of the same looking electric violins that are up for sale.

http://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Rocket-City-Music-Company/dp/B000YH612K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1209233176&sr=1-2

That was one of the violins I saw for sale, and I don't understand. What is 4/4 and what is the difference between it and 1/4? Also, what is the difference between 4 strings and 6 strings?

Another violin that I came across was this violin

http://www.amazon.com/Full-Size-Blue-Electric-Violin/dp/B000BRR8UW/ref=pd_bbs_6?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1209233866&sr=8-6

Customers mentioned it having a high bridge (I don't know what that is) and loose pegs (also don't know) and a plastic finger board, and bad strings. But if it was worked on it produced a good sound.

My budget isn't huge or anything, I just need something to practice on but at the same time wouldn't mess me up if I decided to buy a more expensive violin. I don't want to be playing for the first time on a total POS and not be able to transition to a good violin.

Thanks for any feedback! I hope I asked what I wanted to.

1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 are sizes of violins. 4/4 is full size - if you're over 5 foot 2 inches, that's the way to go. If you're shorter than that, you might want to stop by a music store in town and find out what size is better suited to you - and if you're planning to grow out of that size, buying a violin instead of renting might not be a good idea.

Classic violins have 4 strings. A 6-string violin is pretty odd - I wouldn't go for that. If you ever wanted to switch to an accoustic instrument, you won't find a 6-stringed one.

The bridge is the piece of wood that supports the strings. If it's not properly placed or made to fit the violin, you'll get a lousy sound out of it. The pegs keep the strings taut, and if they are loose, you won't be able to keep the violin in tune. That's very frustrating. And cheap strings just make the violin sound tinny - not a great sound. Sure, all these things can be fixed, but it's going to cost you at least as much as the violin did. And not many luthiers (violin makers) are going to want to work on a cheap violin that's not going to sound great no matter what you do to it.

My advice? Don't buy a violin yet. Go to a local music store and rent one for a few months. You might not be able to rent an electric, but the accoustic is basically the same thing - you can switch between them pretty easily. Rent a decent violin, learn what it should sound like, figure out how the pegs and strings and bridge work, and if you like it or not. Then decide if you want to buy one - and you'll be in a much better position to judge a potential instrument. Buying a violin without playing it first is almost always a bad decision.

i would follow eri's advice, a sound base in classical violin, not learning classical, but the way a classical violinist plays is the best way to go. it gives you a really good base to start from. try and find a teacher, even to learn the basics of the violin and when you get to an "alright" stage you might like to purchase one then, and still take lessons.
i learnt classically (and wish i still had a teacher!) and play celtic style music as well. if would play electric if i could get my hands on a good one.
if you do this then it might even be worth buying a nicer violin then the ones on amazon, like a yamaha electric, or something better,

you shouldnt buy anything offline, you need to hold the instrument and feel if its right for you.