A row of Cox violins
photo by Cox Violins
Carving a scroll
photo by Zachary P. Stephens
Newly varnished
photo by Cox violins
"I have known the work of Douglas Cox for years. Doug made several copies of my Strad, which I believe were extraordinary in quality and in projection. Doug has wonderful ears. He is not just a craftsman, but an artist. To me, he has found a perfect recipe for combining richness and warmth of sound with ease of articulation and power of projection. Many other modern instruments that I have tried (often with a higher price tag) are powerful indeed, but have an edge to the sound which I find distasteful. But Doug's instruments are also very different one from the other, providing an assortment of sonorities that would please a variety of tastes. Doug is a gentleman, not a high-pressured salesman. I have the impression that he is happiest at home in the mountains of Vermont in his beautiful but simple shop."
James Buswell IV
Faculty, New England Conservatory of Music
Artist-Member, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Following is a brief description of some of the violin models currently in production. Doug is happy to make minor changes to meet the special needs of my customers, and he welcomes the opportunity to develop new models, or copy specific old instruments. The instruments can be built with either a new or antiqued appearance.
Betts Stradivari, 1704
A commonly copied Strad, this model has the classic golden period dimensions and has a strong, sweet, and even sound. Body length: 356 mm.
Rosenblith Stradivari, 1713
A copy of the violin in the possession of Eric Rosenblith, this model is longer in the lower bouts than the Betts model and is typical of Strad’s larger golden period violins. It has a rich, full, easy sound, somewhat darker in tone color and is very popular. Body length: 358 mm.
A. & H. Amati, 1610
This early, yet mature model is Amatese in its fine line and finish, but robust in its arch and sound. It has a beautiful one-piece back and amber varnish. Body length: 352 mm.
Kreisler Guarneri del Gesu, 1733
This model captures the robust quality of this maker’s work. While somewhat smaller in size than the Strad models, the fuller, flatter arch gives this model a darker, richer, gutsier sound. Body length: 354 mm.
Kochanski Guarneri del Gesu, 1741
This is a small model typical of the genius of del Gesu’s late period: bold yet refined and elegant in both appearance and sound. Body length: 351 mm.
Leduc Guarneri del Gesu, 1743
Representing Guarneri’s late period, this model is more idiosyncratic and more highly styled than the “Kreisler”. With longer sound holes and more peaked arching, it has a more “chocolate” sound. Body length: 355 mm
Vuillaume Guarneri model
A classic in its own right, this is an enlargement of del Gesu’s model by the famous French maker and copyist. This model is very rich and dark of tone color yet maintaining very good cutting and carrying power. Body length: 359 mm.
