Electric violins are usually used in different situations than acoustic violins. An electric violin is viewed as an experimental instrument and is not found in classical or traditional music, but is often used in avant-garde music. Guitar effects like reverb, chorus, and distortion can be used to give the electric violin a unique, otherworldly sound.
Most electric violins have a solid body design. The solid body keeps the instrument from feeding back. Also, any necessary electrical equipment, such as any wiring or batteries, is housed in the body. Since the electric violin is a relatively new invention, it has no standard body shape or design, and makers are free to experiment and invent new ways of designing the instrument. A electric solid body violin is made for the most efficient and strongest output of sound. The other major advantage of having a solid body electric violin is that electric violins are more durable, their sound is much clearer, they sometimes have built-in equalizers, reduced feedback and they definitely provide better, stronger sounds. And of course, electric violins are most suited for live performances.
For more information on Solid Body Electric Violins and all the other types of violins visit Electric-Violins.net.