Mystery Solved: Chemicals Made Stradivarius Violins Unique

Texas A&M University ^ | 11/29/06 | Joseph Nagyvary

[Teflonic]

Stradivarius knockoffs coming soon...

[Mr. Brightside]

And "Chemicals" are probably what made the Grateful Dead's music sound better than it actually was.

[1rudeboy]

Wal-Mart!

[Don Corleone]

It must be nice to have nothing better to do for 30 years. Who paid him?

[Lee'sGhost]

I once saw a show that claimed that the sound was produced bec of the wood used. What made the wood unique was that it came from timber floated down river. During the weeks it was immersed in water the timber would become infested with very small worms that burrowed into the the interior. The boards or planks cut from the timber and used to make the violins vibrated differently because of the almost microscopic holes.

For some reason I like this explanation much better.

[ZGuy]

Antonio beckons

[sitetest]

Dear ZGuy,

Thanks for the ping!

Classical Music Ping List ping!

If you want on or off this list, let me know via FR e-mail.

Thanks,


sitetest

[dead]

“I was criticized and ridiculed when I made these claims

I really doubt anybody actually ridiculed him for suggesting that the way the wood was treated might have had a big effect on the sound the instruments made. It's not exactly a whack-job theory.

[af_vet_rr]

It must be nice to have nothing better to do for 30 years. Who paid him?

Texas A&M. They are big on agricultural stuff - figures they'd find somebody interested in wooden instruments and how they were made.

[Silly]

Oak Street!

[Issaquahking]

Knock offs? I know of one maker here in the southwest, and he would never copy a Stradivarius...check out his website here. The wait is at least two years from ordering. A good violin isn't made overnight

[1rudeboy]

Completely off-topic, I know, but somebody should photoshop Shatner in The Wrath of Khan screaming, WAL-MART!

[kitkat]

***For some reason I like this explanation much better.***

I do, too. It makes sense, doesn't it?

[Young Werther]

I have a Sears "Strad" manufactured in the 1903-4 time period. If I'm not mistaken there was an article in SciAm which attributed the Strad's sound quality to the veneer that was applied. The "Red Violin" is a good flick about violin veneers!

BTW I saw "In the Good Old Summer Time" starring Judy Garland and "Chuckles" who has a Strad. This movie has been made several times, Earlier with Jimmy Stewart and most recently with Meg Ryan "You've got Mail!"

[MHGinTN]

Perhaps the varnish chemicals filled the tiny holes, creating a sounding board density/diversity in resonance unique to the wood with the holes. ... Just a thought.

[ConservativeDude]

WAL MART BABY!!!

[MinuteGal]

Your post made me pine for a Tequila Worm Sunrise.

Ole!

Leni

[SunTzuWu]

During the weeks it was immersed in water the timber would become infested with very small worms that burrowed into the the interior. The boards or planks cut from the timber and used to make the violins vibrated differently because of the almost microscopic holes.

Could be the reason he treated the wood in the first place. To kill the parasites. Both conditions might account for the unique sound.

[mylife]

Ive long suspected that the composition of the finish may have influenced the tone