Editing Viol (section)

===Electric instruments===
Since the early 1980s, numerous instrument makers, including Eric Jensen, Francois Danger, Jan Goorissen, and Jonathan Wilson, have experimented with the design and construction of electric viols. Like other acoustic instruments to which [[pickup (music technology)|pickup]]s or [[microphone]]s have been added, electric viols are plugged into an [[instrument amplifier]] or a [[PA system]], which makes them sound louder. As well, given that amplifiers and PA systems are electronic components, this gives the performer the ability to change the tone and sound of the instrument by adding [[effects unit]]s such as [[reverb]] or changing the tone with a [[graphic equalizer]]. An equalizer can be used to shape the sound of an electric viol to suit a performance space, or to create unusual new sounds. Electric viols range from Danger's minimally electrified acoustic/electric Altra line to Eric Jensen's [[Solid body|solid-body]] brace-mounted design. They have met with varying degrees of ergonomic and musical success. In the early 21st century, the Ruby Gamba, a seven-string electric viola da gamba,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruby-gamba.com |title=solid-body seven-string electric viola da gamba |publisher=Ruby-gamba.com |date=1999-02-22 |access-date=2012-10-12}}</ref> was developed by [[Ruby Instruments]] of [[Arnhem]], the Netherlands. It has 21 tied nylon (adjustable) frets in keeping with the adjustable (tied gut) frets on traditional viols and has an effective playing range of more than six octaves. Electric viols have been adopted by such contemporary gambists as [[Paolo Pandolfo]], [[Tina Chancey]], and [[Tony Overwater]].