Douglas Cox 15 3/4" viola, 2016 Guarneri model, Brattleboro, Vermont | Metzler Violins

STAFF PICK: Emma recommends this viola within this price range! 

silky, warm, supple

About the Instrument
This viola has a broad, gorgeous sound, honeyed and warm. It has a supple silkiness, making this viola a delight to play. It’s an excellent choice for anyone playing professionally or for the pure pleasure of it. This viola is styled after the late work of Joseph Guarnerius “del Gesù” and is made of well-aged New England grown wood. The back is quarter cut maple, with handsome medium flames ascending from the center joint. The neck and ribs are of a similar maple. This viola has been thoughtfully antiqued by its maker to honor the original piece upon which it is modeled.

Interior label reads: “Douglas C. Cox, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2016 #924”  and is branded and initialed on the inside.
Length: 398 mm
Upper Bout: 288 mm
Middle Bout: 136 mm
Lower Bout: 242 mm

About the Maker
Douglas Cox (1948- ) is a contemporary American luthier based in Brattleboro, Vermont who trained at the State Violin Making School in Mittenwald, Germany in the late 1960s. Cox returned to the United States and was head of repair and chief restorer for Boston's J. Bradley Taylor, Inc. for a decade, attending to some of the finest instruments in New England and servicing the violins for the region's professional musicians. Since 1981, Cox has focused on crafting his own instruments, building more than 1,000 over the course of his career. He has earned numerous awards from the Violin Society of America and his instruments are played by musicians worldwide. 

https://coxviolins.com/