Best Electric Violins and Violas Under $5,000 2026
Affordable electric violins and violas under $5,000 - great value without compromising quality
Last updated: February 11, 2026 • Next update: February 18, 2026
GENRES & STYLES:
For Contemporary
For Rock
For Pop
For Jazz Fusion
For Recording Studio
For Live Performance
#1
⭐
4.8/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
NS Design CR5-VN-AM Electric Violin
by
NS Design
Live Performance
Recording Studio
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Silent practice with headphones
✓ PROS
- • Consistent electronic output
- • Silent practice with headphones
✗ CONS
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
- • Electronic dependency
NS Design CR5-VN-AM Electric ViolinElectric 5-String ViolinWith active pickup system and headphone outputFingerboard:...
⭐
4.8/5
(44 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 194925
$4,499
#2
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Yamaha SV-255 Silent Violin
by
Yamaha
Jazz Fusion
Pop
Rock
Key Feature:
• Effects processing capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Silent practice with headphones
- • Consistent electronic output
✗ CONS
- • Different bowing response
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
Yamaha SV-255 Silent ViolinSilent Violin5-stringThe traditional oval shaped neck gives a natural feelWeight similar to...
⭐
4.9/5
(32 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 247291
$2,299
#3
⭐
4.6/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
NS Design CR4-VN-SG Electric Violin
by
NS Design
Contemporary
Jazz Fusion
Recording Studio
Key Feature:
• Silent practice with headphones
✓ PROS
- • No feedback when amplified
- • Consistent electronic output
✗ CONS
- • Different bowing response
- • Electronic dependency
NS Design CR4-VN-SG Electric ViolinElectric ViolinElectric 4-String ViolinWith active pickup system and headphone...
⭐
4.6/5
(34 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 407900
$4,334
#4
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Fidelius F-Trad-4 Electric Violin 4-str
by
Fidelius
Pop
Live Performance
Rock
Key Feature:
• No feedback when amplified
✓ PROS
- • Silent practice with headphones
- • Modern genre versatility
✗ CONS
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
- • Not suitable for classical orchestra
Fidelius F-Trad-4 Electric Violin 4-strElectric ViolinWith traditional body shapeWittner fine-tuning pegsLight metal...
⭐
4.7/5
(19 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 454098
$2,167
#5
⭐
4.7/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
NS Design CR4-VA-AM Amber Viola
by
NS Design
Contemporary
Pop
Rock
Key Feature:
• Silent practice with headphones
✓ PROS
- • Silent practice with headphones
- • Consistent electronic output
✗ CONS
- • Not suitable for classical orchestra
- • Electronic dependency
NS Design CR4-VA-AM Amber ViolaElectric 4-String ViolaWith active pickup system and headphone outputFingerboard made of...
⭐
4.7/5
(4 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 194927
$4,499
#6
⭐
4.7/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
NS Design NXT4a-VN-SB-F Violin Fretted
by
NS Design
Contemporary
Rock
Recording Studio
Key Feature:
• No feedback when amplified
✓ PROS
- • Modern genre versatility
- • Silent practice with headphones
✗ CONS
- • Electronic dependency
- • Different bowing response
NS Design NXT4a-VN-SB-F Fretted Violin Satin SunburstFretted ViolinDual Mode Active OutputPolar pickup...
⭐
4.7/5
(42 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 282151
$2,684
#7
⭐
5.0/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Fidelius HK-6 Stag Beetle Violin 6-str
by
Fidelius
Pop
Contemporary
Recording Studio
Key Feature:
• Silent practice with headphones
✓ PROS
- • Silent practice with headphones
- • No feedback when amplified
✗ CONS
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
- • Electronic dependency
Fidelius HK-6 Stag Beetle Violin 6-str6-String ViolinWith extravagant stag beetle body shapeWittner fine tuning...
⭐
5.0/5
(11 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 454107
$3,069
#8
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Bodo Vosshenrich Electrola Ergo E-Viola 16"
Recording Studio
Rock
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Modern genre versatility
✓ PROS
- • Effects processing capabilities
- • Consistent electronic output
✗ CONS
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
- • Electronic dependency
Bodo Vosshenrich Electrola Ergo E-Viola 16"Electric ViolaScale: 16"Electric viola with vibrating body and...
⭐
4.6/5
(25 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 563764
$3,069
#9
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
NS Design NXT5a-VN-BK-F Violin Fretted
by
NS Design
Live Performance
Jazz Fusion
Rock
Key Feature:
• Effects processing capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Effects processing capabilities
- • No feedback when amplified
✗ CONS
- • Not suitable for classical orchestra
- • Electronic dependency
NS Design NXT5a-VN-BK-F Fretted ViolinFretted Violin5-StringPolar pickup systemPizzicato/Arco switchScale: 330...
⭐
4.8/5
(41 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 286879
$2,948
#10
⭐
4.7/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Bodo Vosshenrich Electrola Standard E-Viola 16"
Rock
Contemporary
Live Performance
Key Feature:
• Effects processing capabilities
✓ PROS
- • Silent practice with headphones
- • Consistent electronic output
✗ CONS
- • Electronic dependency
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
Bodo Vosshenrich Electrola Standard E-Viola 16"Electric ViolaWith 16" scaleElectric viola with vibrating body...
⭐
4.7/5
(54 reviews)
Sound:
9/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
6/10
Art. 563727
$2,739
#11
⭐
4.7/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
NS Design CR5-VN-SG Electric Violin
by
NS Design
Jazz Fusion
Pop
Recording Studio
Key Feature:
• Consistent electronic output
✓ PROS
- • Effects processing capabilities
- • Silent practice with headphones
✗ CONS
- • Different bowing response
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
NS Design CR5-VN-SG Electric ViolinElectric ViolinElectric 5-string violinWith active pickup system and headphone...
⭐
4.7/5
(35 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 407906
$4,609
#12
⭐
4.5/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
NS Design CR4-VN-PB Electric Violin
by
NS Design
Live Performance
Recording Studio
Pop
Key Feature:
• Consistent electronic output
✓ PROS
- • Consistent electronic output
- • Effects processing capabilities
✗ CONS
- • Not suitable for classical orchestra
- • Electronic dependency
NS Design CR4-VN-PB Electric ViolinElectric ViolinElectric 4-String ViolinWith active pickup system and headphone...
⭐
4.5/5
(17 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 407896
$4,378
#13
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
NS Design CR4-VN-ZW Electric Violin
by
NS Design
Recording Studio
Live Performance
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Consistent electronic output
✓ PROS
- • Effects processing capabilities
- • Silent practice with headphones
✗ CONS
- • Different bowing response
- • Electronic dependency
NS Design CR4-VN-ZW Electric ViolinElectric ViolinElectric 4-string violinWith active pickup system and headphone...
⭐
5.0/5
(29 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 407898
$4,378
#14
⭐
4.9/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
NS Design NXT4a-VN-BK Violin
by
NS Design
Rock
Contemporary
Jazz Fusion
Key Feature:
• Consistent electronic output
✓ PROS
- • Consistent electronic output
- • Silent practice with headphones
✗ CONS
- • Electronic dependency
- • Not suitable for classical orchestra
NS Design NXT4a-VN-BK ViolinElectric ViolinPolar pickup systemPizzicato/Arco switchEbony fingerboard (Diospyros...
⭐
4.9/5
(43 reviews)
Sound:
10/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
7/10
Art. 404642
$2,574
#15
⭐
5.0/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Fidelius F-Trad-5 Electric Violin 5-str
by
Fidelius
Live Performance
Rock
Recording Studio
Key Feature:
• Consistent electronic output
✓ PROS
- • No feedback when amplified
- • Modern genre versatility
✗ CONS
- • Lacks acoustic resonance
- • Not suitable for classical orchestra
Fidelius F-Trad-5 Electric Violin 5-str5-String Electric ViolinWith traditional body shapeWittner fine-tuning pegsLight...
⭐
5.0/5
(40 reviews)
Sound:
8/10
Build:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Art. 454100
$2,409
How to Choose the Best Electric Violins and Violas
Budget Planning
- • Under $200: Entry-level
- • $200-$500: Intermediate
- • $500-$1000: Advanced
- • $1000+: Professional
Quality Check
- • Sound clarity & tone
- • Build materials & finish
- • Hardware durability
- • Overall craftsmanship
Key Features
- • Your musical style
- • Skill level match
- • Intended use case
- • Brand reputation
Frequently Asked Questions
Key factors include build quality, sound characteristics, playability, brand reputation, warranty coverage, and value for money. Consider your musical style, skill level, and intended use to find the best match.
Budget depends on your needs and experience level. Beginners can find quality options for $200-500, intermediate players should consider $500-1500 range, while professionals often invest $1500+ for premium features.
Higher-priced electric violins and violas typically offer better materials, craftsmanship, and performance. They're worth it if you're serious about music, perform regularly, or need professional-grade features.
Top brands combine quality, innovation, and reliability. We evaluate brands based on build quality, sound performance, durability, and customer satisfaction to recommend the best options for different budgets.
Both have advantages. Online offers better prices and selection, while stores allow hands-on testing. We recommend researching online first, then testing in stores if possible. Many online retailers offer excellent return policies.
