The Original "Saraswathi" Veena

Earlier I had posted a video of Sri. Sashank Mallya's demonstration of mikes for acoustic and electric Veenas. Here sound engineer Sri. L.Baba Prasad himself has explained how an acoustic Veena is recorded. The Veena Artist who's demonstrating is Sri. Sashank Mallya.

To know the difference between acoustic and electric Veenas kindly go back to Sashank's video where he has demonstrated a magnetic pickup with magnetic strings for an electric Veena.

Decades ago Veenas were recorded using an acoustic mike. Veena Vidwan Late Sri. Raghavan was a respected name in the film industry who had recorded for memorable and hit film songs. As Baby Gayathri I had the honor of sharing acoustic mikes with him for many film songs.

In recent trends electric Veenas are also being recorded (in films/studio recordings) bypassing the usage of acoustic mikes. The pickups of electric Veenas are directly plugged into the recording console, like in the case of electric/bass guitars. 

Someone I know asked me, "Just let me know very simply how I can make out the difference between an acoustic Veena and an electric Veena".

I replied, "Close your eyes. It's an electric Veena when the Veena sounds like a guitar, mandolin, shrill like a sitar, or a cross between guitar and gottuvadhyam marked by an unnaturally even tone (various tones fixed by tonal adjustments on the amp). If it has a softer tone with a lilting resonance, an unevenness and a raw quality marked by natural sweetness, then it's an acoustic Veena. Listen carefully, you yourself will understand."

"Then why is it that there are even electric Veenas in the market?!"

 "The electric Veena player needs much lesser effort than an acoustic Veena player in bringing out nuances. The acoustic Veena player depends on his energy in handling basic to tough phrases as whatever he plays is drawn from the energy source that is within himself. In the case of an electric Veena player, the player's energy is substituted by the electric energy that supplies ample, even resonance and playing is made simpler and easier, which is why we find so many electric Veena players today."

I added, "And an electric Veena player can never be identified by 'veena nadham' (or lack of it) or by the tonal quality of the Veena he/she's playing. An electric Veena player is identified only through his/her technique, musicianship and repertoire. Whereas an acoustic Veena player can be identified by his/her 'Veena nadham' as his/her playing is due to the source of energy within himself/herself."