testimonials – Page 3

David Rivera

April 17, 2014/in testimonials /by WVwebinatrix

OPINIÓN DE DAVID:

“Soy violinista con entrenamiento clásico pero empecé a tocar rock y metal hace mas de 20 años. En Colombia no había otro violinista que hiciera esto en los 90´s y me tocó a mi abrir mi propio camino, al ser el primero en intentarlo seriamente en mi país, a punta de ensayo y error. Yo sentí la necesidad de encontrar un violín eléctrico que llenara mis expectativas para poder ampliar mi horizonte sonoro pero no había nadie que pudiera aconsejarme al respecto. Empecé a buscar en internet y fue ahí donde encontré a Mark Wood y sus maravillosos instrumentos. Antes de comprarlo tenía miedo de que no fuera lo que yo esperaba. Sin embargo me arriesgué y ordené un hermoso Viper rojo de 5 cuerdas. Apenas lo tuve en mis manos supe que mi carrera estaba a punto de dar un vuelco total!!! El sonido de mi Viper era agresivo, rudo pero al mismo tiempo hermoso. Perfecto para TENEBRARUM, mi banda de metal y para mi proyecto solista de Violín Rock. Y cuando pensé que no había nada mejor, encontré el Electrical Acoustic Deluxe de 5 cuerdas…wow!!! Tiene un sonido dulce pero es contundente y grandioso a la hora de grabar. Con la rudeza de mi Viper y la dulzura del Deluxe, encontré el balance perfecto. Gracias a todos en Wood violins por dejarme entrar a la familia!!!”

DAVID´S ENGLISH QUOTE:

“I’m a classically-trained violinist but I also started to play rock & metal more than 20 years ago. In Colombia, it was impossible to find any violin players in the 90´s who played anything removed from classical, even blues, and I was forced to look for my own path. Being the first interested in exploring metal music with the violin in my country, by trial and error, I felt urged to find a violin able to open my sonic horizons, but there was nobody to give me any clue about it. I started to research on the internet and suddenly I discovered Mark Wood and his awesome instruments! As I was deciding to purchase it, I was a little scared (“What if’s…” you know). However, I took my chances and ordered a gorgeous red 5-string Barbera powered Viper. As soon as I had it in my hands I knew my playing was about to change radically!!! My Viper’s sound is totally bad-ass but, at the same time, beautiful, perfect for my metal band; TENEBRARUM, and my Violin Rock solo project.

“Then, just when I was thinking “Nobody can beat this one”, I found the mighty 5-string Concert Series Acoustic-Electric Deluxe… WOW!!! Its sound is sweet and smooth but awesomely powerful and perfect in the recording studio. With the strength of my Viper and the smoothness of my Concert Deluxe, I found the perfect balance. Thank you Wood Violins crew for letting me in to the family!!!”

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David Rivera is a Colombian rock-metal violinist. As with many other performers, he has had classical training, being part of Antioquia’s Symphonic Orchestra (1991-1994), Antioquia’s Youth Symphonic Orchestra (concertino, 1998-2000) and Medellin’s Philharmonic Orchestra (2001-2012). As a child, he discovered the power of Metal music and he felt in love with it. In 1990 he created his own Metal band, TENEBRARUM, who have since recorded 8 albums, being one of the most prolific Metal bands in Colombia. TENEBRARUM is one of the most respected Colombian metal bands, having won several awards and recognitions inside the country. He is also the founder of DR Violin Rock, his solo Project (2011). This is a project in which David showcases his musical prowess, and amazing talent on the violin, by mixing 80’s music & Heavy Metal.

David is an innovative and versatile musician who can play a variety of musical styles: From Colombian folklore (with his parents whom are both musicians), to classical and electronic; to Rock & Metal. He has shared the stage, as a guest musician, with artists such as Whiplash (USA), Diego Torres (Argentina), Arkangel (Venezuela), Julio Nava (Colombia), and as session musician in studio with Fabulae Dramatis (Belgium). David also has a Bachelor´s Degree in Spanish-English teaching (1994) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music teaching (2011).

Joseph Shackelford

September 28, 2016/in testimonials /by WVwebinatrix

“I have played many different electric violins. Without a doubt the Viper Violin surpasses them all! I wanted an electric violin that not only sounded like an acoustic violin, but one I could bring my classical technique to as well. Not only can you bring across your classical training, you can rock out with ease and mobility. I would definitely recommend this to anyone seeking a powerful companion on stage or in the studio!”

Electric Violinist Joseph Shackelford is transforming the perception of what is possible with the violin and genres such as rock, pop, alt rock, and more. Described as the “Jimi Hendrix of Violin,” Joseph is taking on the world one stage at a time. and has performed on the same bill alongside artists such as 3 Doors Down, Ben Folds, Barrett Baber, Whisky Myers, Will Hoge, and many more. Developing a diehard fan base, Joseph’s shows always deliver. Equipped with an energy that is fun and engaging, Joseph creates an experience that will rock any music festival or concert venue.

Connect with Joseph:
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Check out Joseph’s Viper page on his website!

Mark O’Connor

December 23, 2013/in testimonials /by wvmaster

Violinist/composer/fiddler Mark O’Connor is widely recognized as one of the most gifted contemporary composers in America and surely one of the brightest talents of his generation. The annual Mark O’Connor Fiddle Camp has become a gathering place for string players to study a wide variety of music from the world’s best teachers and performers, including Mark Wood.

Jerry Goodman

January 15, 2014/in testimonials /by WVwebinatrix

For THIS artist, we felt it would be best to have Mark Wood provide the quote:

“This man singlehandedly motivated and inspired me to play the way I play. When I was a kid growing up playing classical music on my viola, there was nobody other than Jean Luc Ponty and Sugarcane Harris that came close to the kind of playing that I was attracted to. And then I heard Jerry. His use of distortion and wah-wah technique was mind-blowing to me. I’m sure that thousands and thousands of other electric violin players out there were greatly influenced by him. Now, how cool is it that, after all these years, my violin hero is playing one of my instruments and loving it!”

Jerry Goodman is an American violinist best known for playing electric violin in the bands The Flock and the jazz fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra. Goodman actually began his musical career as The Flock’s roadie before joining the band on violin. Trained in the conservatory, both of his parents were in the string section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His uncle was the noted composer and jazz pianist Marty Rubenstein.

After his 1970 appearance on John McLaughlin’s album My Goal’s Beyond, he became a member of McLaughlin’s original Mahavishnu Orchestra lineup until the band broke up in 1973, and was viewed as a soloist of equal virtuosity to McLaughlin, keyboardist Jan Hammer and drummer Billy Cobham.
In 1975, after Mahavishnu, Goodman recorded the album Like Children with Mahavishnu keyboard alumnus Jan Hammer. Starting in 1985 he recorded three solo albums for Private Music — On the Future of Aviation, Ariel, and the live album It’s Alive with luminaries such as Fred Simon and Jim Hines—and went on tour with his own band, as well as with Shadowfax and The Dixie Dregs. He scored Lily Tomlin’s The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe and is the featured violinist on numerous film soundtracks, including Billy Crystal’s Mr. Saturday Night and Steve Martin’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels . His violin can be heard on more than fifty albums from artists ranging from Toots Thielemans to Hall & Oates to Styx to Jordan Rudess to Choking Ghost to Derek Sherinian. Goodman has appeared on four of Sherinian’s solo records – Inertia (2001), Black Utopia (2003), Mythology (2004), and Blood of the Snake (2006)

In 1993, Goodman joined the American instrumental band, The Dixie Dregs, fronted by guitarist Steve Morse. Goodman appeared on one studio recording “Full Circle” (1994), and the live album “California Screamin'” (2000). In 1996 Session violist and producer Ray Tischer featured Goodman on the award winning CD Canciones del Sol/Britt Bossa Orchestra (band) on Tischer’s original instrumental Toca del Angel.

After an absence from the public eye in live concert, he toured in 2004 and 2005 with Gary Husband in his group Gary Husband’s Force Majeure, and appeared on the DVD Gary Husband’s Force Majeure – Live at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. Even more recently, he played with the San Diego based fusion group Hectic Watermelon and with Dream Theater in their album Black Clouds & Silver Linings. Goodman has also been a part of Billy Cobham’s Spectrum 40 tour.

Rachel Barton Pine

January 13, 2014/in testimonials /by WVwebinatrix

Rachel Barton Pine is one of the most recognized names on the classical music scene today. She made her debut as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at age 10. Since then, she’s gone on to perform with orchestras all over the world, as well as with many of rock’s biggest names such as Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Steve Vai.

As a young virtuoso, she uses her fame to extol the virtues of ALL genres of music – and her Viper helps her spread the word!

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Jesse Spencer (House, Chicago Fire)

June 20, 2012/in testimonials /by wvmaster

“My Sabre is by far the most impressive electric violin I have ever played. Playing onstage next to electric guitars used to be an issue. Not anymore. The Sabre is such a responsive piece of craftsmanship, that those beautiful Barbera transducer pickups help reach right through walls of guitar sound and keep me right up front, all the while maintaining an incredibly warm, rich tone. Pizzicato too! On top of it all, I really needed a electric violin that FEELS like a violin to play. Behold, the Sabre!!! Looks like a dream, plays like a dream.”

Jesse Spencer, one of the stars of the hit TV shows House and Chicago Fire also happens to be a wonderful violinist who performs with Band From TV, a group comprised of TV actors who devote their free time to raising millions of dollars for their personal charities.

Jesse plays a stunning 5-string fretless Sabre with a Barbera pickup, Perfection pegs, and a teak tiger maple exotic top. Watch him duel with Mark on Devil Went Down to Georgia!

Val Vigoda

December 23, 2013/in testimonials /by wvmaster

“After years of struggling with other electric violins, I was lucky enough to find Mark Wood’s elegant Vipers. I have taken them all over the world on tour, and would not think of stepping on stage without them. They are a quantum leap forward in the evolution of the instrument.”

Val Vigoda has been playing Mark Wood 6-string Vipers since 1996: first with her band GrooveLily; in theatres with her off-Broadway show STRIKING 12 and the Broadway-bound ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME; on tour around the world with Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra; and more recently with her solo looping Ableton Live one-woman-symphony-of-sound project. In addition to her work as a singer and violinist, Val is an award-winning lyricist for theatre and film, and she’s the first-call lyric doctor for Disney live events on two continents.

Val has been a member of the Wood Violins family for over 15 years and is not only a stellar musician – seriously, check out the video below – but an awesome person!

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“Daylight” performed live by Valerie Vigoda, November 2011 from Valerie Vigoda on Vimeo.

Rohan Roy

April 2, 2015/in testimonials /by WVwebinatrix

“I have been playing my Stingray SV-5 for more than one year now, and I really love the instrument because it has got a diverse tonality and it is very much lightweight. I feel comfortable while playing Classical, Rock, Jazz or any other genres as it has got a mellow sound but at the same time a very Powerful Pickup System. The Balance between the sound level of the strings is remarkable. I would recommend this violin to everyone whether a beginner or an advanced violin player.”

Considered by many to be one of the most talented violinists in Kolkata, Rohan’s first musical influences stemmed from his father, eminent violinist Mr. Deb Sankar Roy (of Violin Brothers fame). With his father as a violinist and mother a singer, he was automatically moved towards the essence of music. He began learning Violin under the tutelage of his father and guidance of his mother at the tender age of 5. He was greatly influenced by a French musician Jean-Luc Ponty and a Carnatic Fusion violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam. He was introduced to western classical music and he has won the Challenge Cup and a gold medal for topping the Grades at Royal School of Music (London). He has also participated in many music festivals and competitions where he has been awarded as the best performer. He is currently working with bands named “Silajit Live” , “Taal Tantra” , and also as a solo performer of Western Classical and Jazz Fusion genres. In 2010, he has worked with an Indo-French traditional & experimental music project “A Plus” supported by Alliance Francaise du Bengale, Campus France Kolkata and the prestigious Calcutta School of Music. He got the honor of performing at the Moscow Conservatory with his father in Aug 2011, organized by ICCR. He has played in numerous Indian Films such as Chotushkone, Piku, Chotoder Golpo, Yoddha, Lorai etc. He currently hopes to collaborate with eminent musicians all over the world and continue his journey as a performer.