Pixie Jenkins – doyen of Australian fiddledom, humourist, stage performer and educator
I just fell in love with the organic nature of this instrument – how it feels, how it seems to bend and move with you. It’s a wonderful thing to find a company that actually wants to work with violin players, especially electric players – this attitude is unique in the world.
Most electric fiddles are like boat anchors, they give you nothing back, this has the properties of an acoustic fiddle under your chin and that’s a wonderful thing. I use these fiddles in the studio and I can use them as eloquently as any acoustic fiddle.
The stability of the Epoch is extraordinary and they tend to keep their pitch a lot longer.
Rabbit Robinson – stage violinist, music tutor, creator of Rabbit’s Music Factory
The Epoch is great to play with a lovely action. It’s very easy to tune and that’s important for young players. I love the five string with its great sound and it stays in tune. Seams don’t come undone in humidity and heat and they look great which is a big thing on stage. It’s very comfortable to play with great spacing on all the strings. The carbon fibre bridge is very reliable and produces a clean sound.
There’s nothing I can’t play on this. It has a good acoustic sound that a lot of solid body electric violins don’t have.
Ryan Delahoussaye – violinist for USA touring rock band Blue October
When I co-founded Blue October, I needed an instrument that wasn’t so delicate and could stand up to touring with a rock band. It had to put up with humidity, sweat and some physical abuse.
When I was introduced to Epoch in 2000 I was very surprised by the durability of the construction, not to mention the amazing tone I got out of it acoustically. What I didn’t expect was it to sound so tonally full and expressive when I plugged it in to my FX pedals and amp. I have since had several VP4s, a beautiful multicolored LP4, a custom Dragon VP4 and 2 Flag Series (Texas and USA).
Sébastian Savard – violinist and performer with Cirque Du Soleil
As a violinist playing most of my shows under a circus bigtop, I face extreme humidity and dryness but my Epoch does not expand or shrink as much as a normal violin.
Carbon fiber is a good material for that. It’s very reliable for those situations. Also the cold and the extreme heat are dangerous for my 150-year-old French violin.
On stage I walk, I run, I play violin in 15 different positions so I feel safer with the Epoch than with my normal wood violin. It’s easy to manage. You just plug it with a wireless pack and there’s no sound leakage in a microphone. The sound is loud and precise. I recommend the Epoch violin for rough, dangerous and unusual situations.
String Diva – international classical and pop stage performers
We require our instruments to look, sound and feel nothing short of the best.
The Epoch lives up to the rigours of travel while looking immaculate next to our many couture gowns and costumes.
The sound is precise, full and allows us to add the most subtle expression whether it be a Vivaldi piece or Lady Gaga’s latest hit.
The feel of the instrument in our hands as we play, dance and move is second to none.
Ian Cooper – Australia’s most exciting virtuoso concert, jazz and Gypsy violinist
My Epoch violins offer me the convenience of being able to plug straight in and get playing quickly with a minimum of fuss. The well designed electronics in the on- board pre-amp do a great job of ironing out unwanted tones. They sound great plugged into an amp on stage or straight into the PA.
My timber VP4 has become my favorite electric instrument for Jazz gigs. It has the most even sounding pickup I have ever played.
I play my carbon fibre VP5 for rock gigs and I can turn it up louder than a wooden violin without the pickup or the body feeding back. Epoch violins also look cool.
Andrew Clermont – chameleon fiddler and world-toured multi-instrumentalist
To be ready and able in any situation across the planet is why I chose the Epoch 5-string pre-amp series. It’s tough as nails regardless of temperature or humidity.
Get the sound guy to set the channel flat and plenty of head room and the Epoch soars through all situations easily and clearly heard. It loves effects and/or amps plus it has no tone bumps to contend with.
From low tones with edge to Santana distortion it’s a breeze, thus making it a great compliment to my acoustic fiddle, too, when they can travel together. But usually there’s only room for one, the tough one, Epoch.
Australia’s international jazz superstar James Morrison
Congratulations on this fantastic violin of Ian Cooper’s. The Epoch violin has the groove I want in my band.
I also love the Epoch double bass.
Rachel Bostock – international touring band The Bostocks and now a leading soloist and teacher
I first began playing Epoch violins when I was 12 years old. I have played a few Epochs over the years, with my favourite and primary instrument being the VP4 carbon-fibre. It is an incredibly durable instrument.
I find the tuning holds up remarkably. The thing I love most about Epoch violins is their ability to cut through while playing live with a band. A lot of violins tend to get lost in the mix, but Epoch holds its own.
I would recommend Epoch violins to any touring artist who is looking for a reliable, durable and great sounding instrument.
Random comments from earlier days
Bruce Davidson – conductor Gold Coast Youth Symphony
Ease of playing and consistent quality all the way across. It would be great, instead at school of having a whole pile of rotten instruments, having something that is very consistent.
Dave Maddick – string teacher
I teach lots of young kids and of course I’ve always got the problem of necks coming adrift because they drop the violin. Cracks occur, seams come apart because of glues and with the Epoch and its construction there aren’t any issues.
Matthews Tyson – St Cecilia School of Music
The sound is absolutely incredible. You can hear the resonance virtually in every note. There is a consistent resonance and quality across all four strings. Very responsive.
