Wood Violins 6-String Fretted Viper Electric Violin Natural

Finally, after 10 years pining after it, I have my own Mark Wood Viper violin. Bear in mind that I played classical, folk, and country styles on my old Italian violin for decades. But having tried Mark's Viper at fiddle camp, I was sold. And, once I sold my Italian violin at auction, I was able to get an instrument that was on consignment with six string and frets. It is the best musical toy I've had in my life. Period. The sound is fantastic, although it is going to be better once I get used to the bow angle required not to set off adjacent strings. This is the ultimate instrument for improvising and for singing while playing. I couldn't be happier. Also, my understanding is that these are very much made in the US. Either way, I love, love, love Angel, my new love.

Mark Wood Violin brand are contradiction to itself. I bought the 'Wood" viper because i wanted the best, made in USA, but having had several guitar builders havetold me that these violins have all the hall marks of 'Made in China'.I have been playing the violin for a long time, i perform every week in a duo , teach, and have tried just about everything out there.I purchased the fretted 7 string sunburst with gold hardware direct from the company, and had to spend $1500 in order to get it playable.If your thinking about frets, think again.. they ruin your strings, intonation is physically impossible without fine tuners. research tempered tuning if you doubt it.Frets on a violin is stupid and the idea of playing on top is silly.The electronics are 3rd party (barbera tranducer) and sound good ,but everything else is... Chinese quality.It's a bad veneer top (poor workmanship) , not solid, and the wood is poplar not maple like just about ever other violin made.I received excellent service , till i got the violin and found that had major problems, and that's when the service stopped.1 the distance between the strings in the lower register at the end of the neck (w that made the instrument almost unplayable. this was because the strings were too far over the fingerboard.when you try to play anything more than a 3rd finger up the neck.I had the frets because they were so roughly done, not flat and painted silver..The ebony fingerboard had not even had been planed, so that had to be done to make it flat.2. The finish... flaming is modest at best, and the lacquer/paint is very thin in places that you can see the wood..it's a veneer top...done on the cheap.3. The bridge was cut with tools too big for the strings, roughly done....and also incorrect distance cut as per nut - i dont know how this one got through...Mark wood himself personallywritten letter comes with the violin saying he has personally setup this violin to his specs. Appalling.5. After 5 emails trying to explain the problems , i just got hand balled around to 5 different people, and had to re explain myself, because i was dismissed that there wasn't a problem andthat it was me (the customer) who personally choose the violin in NY to buy...NOT TRUE.Then finally was told that because i paid less than retail that it was a demo model , i shouldpay someone else to fix it and leave them alone. For the kind of money i'm spending i expect top quality product with the best service..instead i'm left feeling like a sucker...Finally i got a new nut in the mail, but now faced with other problems relating to the bridge..how to setup the intonation without the buzz, etcOK violin if you don't mind spending $3000-4800 on cheaply made Chinese style violin , and spending another $1500 fixing it up because it doesn't play.sure send it back, but you only have 4 days with a %15 restocking fee...now i know why.Customer service sucks.