Yamaha YSV-104BL Silent Violin

The Yamaha YSV-104BL Silent Violin is the best electric violin i have played so far.

+Violin's input is on the side so the jack doesn't make funny noises when you move
+Very beautiful sound
+Violin's body is perfect!

- I am not so satisfied form the Control box preamplifier
- Don't expect an electric violin to sound like a classic violin..

Until I bought this, I was a Clarinet player. However, my practice time is serverly limitted as Clarinets are horns, and horns are loud. Thus, I have to reduce my playing time to sensible hours.
I was looking for a quiet instrument to learn. There were only a few choices. A keyboard was too big. I was not impressed with the EWI. Electric guitars too bulky, and I needed an amp. Then I saw silent violins. Small and quiet.
I am probably mad to atempt to teach myself the violin but, with the help of Youtube and the Suzuki books I am thoroughly enjoying learning and nobody can hear me. As my motivation is purely achievement based, this instrument is perfect and, my efforts to learn disturb no-one. One of the things that impressed me the most was that everything is identical to a acoustic violin with the exception of the wooden box and, the sound post. The downside - it arrives the the bridge flattened. This is less of an issue than it would be with an acoustic violin as it has no sound post that could move but, it does mean that potentially it is not going to get the best set up. If you have never played a violin before, it is a little daunting at first. The second negative were the leads. They supply two of them but, I broke both within the first month. A cheap purchase from amazon of a shorter lead that I cannot fall over and break, solved the problem.
Overall this was an amazing purchase and I am really learning to appreciate the simplicity of a violin over my Clarinet. I am not anticipating becoming a professional player at any point but, it serves it purpose in giving me something quiet to play without annoying the neighbors. The only issue I have is I now have to decide if my next purchase will be an acoustic violin or an electric one with amp (just in case I want to play to someone else other than myself).