SCIENTISTS SAYS HE'S FOUND THE KEY TO STRADIVARIUS'S SOUND

The Houston Chronicle ^ | 28 December 2006 | Eric Berger

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Fascinating story. I believe the chap has got it right.

[Izzy Dunne]

Consider, he says, the scientist who discovers the exact chemical formulation of the paints used by Michelangelo. Does that mean, therefore, that the scientist now can re-create the Sistine Chapel?

What an asinine question!

[TommyDale]

Soaked in human tears?

[Fintan]

 

[RedStateRocker]

I've followed all the theories on what make a Strad sound so sweet for 20+ years. This fellow is not the first, nor even the 50th to say that wood treatments, deliberate or inadvertent, were the 'key'. Being somewhat better informed than average it is pretty obvious that it is a combination of several things:
-The wood Stradivarius used was floated downriver.
-The wood was aged properly
-the wood was treated with various chemical formula
-THE CRAFTMANSHIP OF THE MASTER WAS IMPECCABLE
-The (proprietary and secret)finishes applied by the master.
-These violins have aged for a long time being played constantly (the vibratins affect the wood cell alignment)
-any time you hear on it is usually being played by a master.

IMHO no one factor is the answer. Friends and professional associates have done much study on the acoustics of wood aging , MANY great chemists and engineers have studied these violins. The article illuminates one small bit of a much larger subject; not false but over hyped.

[Tallguy]

The theory that I heard was that the wood used on the violins had a much tighter grain due to the colder winters in the years 20-50 years before harvesting those trees. Little Ice Age, I think.

[exit82]

Bose speakers?

[Ramcat]

Thanks for this story.
This fellow might indeed be onto something but the quest to duplicate the Stradivari sound has been ongoing for centuries.
The fact that the audience picked this fellow's instrument over the Stradivarius is not surprising.
Most people would prefer the sound of two dollar ear buds to that of a pair of Ohm Fs.
It's the phenomena that allows us to talk on crappy sounding cell phones without putting up much of a fuss?

[vpintheak]

I'm thinking he made a deal with the devil. (Just kidding)

[Surtur]

And the tone deaf say, EH!

[sticker]

Only if it was in Georgia

[underbyte]

Latest theory I heard was that it was the little ICE AGE that caused an increase in the density of the wood I would think that the STRADIVARIUS'S day's of uniqueness is numbered. Modern science could probably reproduce the exact hardness, shape, sound reflectivity etc. given a little effort

[kimmie7]

Love this story. At first, I thought "I hope he's really found one of the reasons." Now I've decided that it would ruin the mystique. Great read, though.

[Sender]

The Devil's produced it's unique timbre by being made of gold, I believe. However it's price was deemed excessive.

[Red Badger]

Take my violin............please.........

[True-Stu]

Most people would prefer the sound of two dollar ear buds to that of a pair of Ohm Fs.,

Audio anachronism alert! I haven't heard references made to Ohm's Walsh drivers in a long time. I listened to these extensively about 25 years ago. They were truly a unique pioneering design with their own set of unique flaws, but the "Cool" factor was off the charts.

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

It's the phenomena that allows us to talk on crappy sounding cell phones without putting up much of a fuss?

Ha ha ha.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Best wood comes attached to a pre-64 Model 70 Winchester.

[BallyBill]

KO Stradivarius

[Cold Heart]

From the article it sounds like the scientists have reproduced and even bettered the sound. The Stradivarius will however, always be unique in it self.

I understand some fine instruments are also being made from the wood that is being mined from the bottom of Lake Superior. Perhaps if that wood were treated similarly there would be a new quality imparted.