Dennis Lau

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DennisLau(Malaysia)“Striking and Fierce – that’s how the exterior of the Viper resonates just like its tone and the interior of its craftsmanship. This is what we call a product that comes & leaves its MARK once in a lifetime.”

Sony Music artist Dennis Lau from Malaysia began his musical adventure with the piano at the tender age of 3 and is now an accomplished musician with many years of experience under his belt. Not only is he prominent in the Malaysian music scene and in contemporary/jazz rhythms but also has made a name for himself in the international arena. He has shared the stage with Asia’s most prominent and popular artists and is a regular guest performer on many of the region’s top television programs. His production company, Mosaic Music Entertainment, provides services such as live entertainment (bands and solo artists), sound & lighting systems, artist performances and collaborations, and also artist management.

Find out more about this incredibly diverse artist:

Website | Facebook | YouTube

ThisIsDennisLau

 

Shawn Bailey (Big and Rich)

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ShawnBailey“I love my Viper for the amazing comfort and playability that it gives me… and for the great natural tone that I get out of it!”

Shawn Bailey (shown above right, next to John Rich) plays a 5-string fretless Viper with Warner Brothers country artists Big and Rich and Cowboy Troy. He performed with his Viper at the Country Music Awards and on Good Morning America.

Jimmy Herman (Carrie Underwood)

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JimmyHerman-and-CarrieJimmy Herman approached us awhile back to build him a 7-string Viper with a camo finish (as part of our Chris Compston Artist Series). Not long afterwards, he called us with the news that he was hired as the violinist for American Idol superstar Carrie Underwood and needed another Viper so we built him a 5-string fretless with an amazing champagne sparkle custom finish! 

 

 

 

Alyson Montez

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AlysonMontez-1“Like most violinists, I was classically trained  from the time I was a small child.  However, while I always dreamed of becoming a violinist when I grew up, I began to realize as I got older just how hard it was to be a professional musician.  I was even told by an instructor not to bother studying music in college, that I’d never make it!  Then I met Mark Wood, and his innovative approach to the violin turned my world upside-down.  Now, many years later, with a 6-string fretless and 7-string fretted Viper in my arsenal, I’m a successful musician, playing everything from classical to Latin to rock – and everything in between!  I can shred like a guitar, chop out backing rhythms and record string quartets on the same instrument, not to mention playing for hours without fatigue.  The Viper has revolutionized the violinist’s role in the music world forever, and I’m proud to be a part of this new era!”

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BAR Markovich

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Bar-Markovich“The first time I saw a Viper was on 2008 when browsing videos on YouTube. At the beginning I thought – what strange space-ships they build today that pretend to be a violin. But after hearing the true sound of it my mind was blown away and I started to look for my own Viper by Wood Violins. The Viper gave me the opportunity to explore and search for new approach of sound. Its magnificent capability of absorbing the sound produced by the hands and translating it in a most precise way, is what made me so curious about owning one. Now I can enjoy unlimited options of vast range of sound and tonal use!”

See more on BAR’s YouTube channel.

Bar-Markovich-Viper-hdstkBar Markovich, born in Israel in 1991, began studying the violin at age 6. He currently studies with Ani Schnarch at the Royal College of Music in London. Bar was granted scholarships by the RCM Polonsky Scholar, The America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the FIDF, and was a laureate of the 2008 Paul Ben-Haim Competition, Tel Aviv. He was a member of the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Music Center program for outstanding young musicians, and is a graduate of “Keshet Eilon International Violin Master-courses”.

He appeared as a soloist with the Haifa Symphony in 2006-2009 and 2012 , as well as Ra’anana Symphony Orchestra and with Daniel Barenboim’s West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, performing in Europe, in New York’s Carnegie Hall and at the UN.
He has taken part in masterclasses given by Ivry Gitlis, Miriam Fried, Zakhar Bron, Maria Radicheva, Vadim Gluzman, Mila Feldman, Sophie Jant and Rudolf Koelman.

Katie Jacoby

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KatieJacoby-2014“When I first saw Mark’s cool-looking, eye-catching Vipers in a magazine, I knew I had to get my hands on one. I fell in love with the Viper after realizing the sounds that emanate from it are just as beautiful as the instrument itself. I am proud to say that my arsenal now includes 3 Vipers. Vipers have made it possible for violinists everywhere to unleash their inner rock star. What a dramatic change in the history of violin craftsmanship. The New World Order has begun!”

Katie Jacoby is a New York-based electric and acoustic violinist. She has performed diverse genres of music in a variety of settings such as Carnegie Hall, the White House in D.C., Germany’s Zappanale festival, Lollapalooza in Chicago, and NYC’s Shakespeare in the Park, and with bands ranging from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to Exodus. She is currently a member of the Ed Palermo Big Band, performing big band jazz renditions of Frank Zappa’s music. She graduated New York University with a degree in Media, Culture, and Communication and a minor in Music. Her original music is forthcoming.

Website | Facebook

Katei

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Kat-Chang1a

“It’s so beautiful!!!! I’m very very happy with the sound, design and your service!!! [The finisher] did such a great job! Everyone including myself can’t take our eyes off it!! Thanks to Mark Wood for his design of the Viper and his contribution to the violin in the contemporary industry!! Thanks to him, people like ourselves are blessed with such awesome instruments to play!! And thanks to the working team!! You guys really looked after me well!! Great service!! Years down the track, I’ll definitely purchase a few more Vipers!!!”

The custom finish on KATEI’s unique Viper was created as part of our Chris Compston Artist Series.

Website | Facebook

Susan Aquila

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IMG_1903“I have always considered the Viper a work of art. Beautiful to look at with sleek lines, the Viper is a stunner. And, it sounds as good as it looks! The tone has a dark, warm quality that I really enjoy and have not found on any other electric fiddle. The most surprising thing that has happened since playing the Viper is a positive change in my technique. Having frets forced my hand to relax and release to clear the frets. This carried over to my classical playing. My shifting has become effortless and smooth. Also, having 6 strings, forced my bow arm to become supple and exacting. The strings are closer than on my acoustic. My bow arm had to learn to navigate tight string crossings. I find that there is a lot more freedom in my bow arm and there is an ease to how I negotiate difficult string passages. Lastly, having access to 2 lower strings and assorted effects pedals has opened a door to creativity. Exploring different sounds and timbres has allowed me to open up and be more expressive in ways I could not have imagined previously. Owning a Viper has been a win-win situation. Great sound and better technique!

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By international acclaim, vocalist and electric violinist Susan Aquila is taking the pop world by storm. She has appeared in concert and on recordings with artists such as Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, Kanye West, Steven Tyler, Robert Plant, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Tony Bennett, Andrea Bocelli, K.D. Lang, Josh Groban, Barry Manilow, Michael Buble, Deep Purple, The Left Banke, Johnny Mathis, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Now, she is stepping out on her own with her first CD: “Broken Angel”, which, in advance press, is creating a stir in both pop and classical circles. At home in both genres, this incendiary artist is breaking through in the coming year, proving herself to be a seminal figure on her Viper Six String Electric Violin.