[ResponseAbility]

****I’d bet it makes little difference what they were finished with, and more difference what the ultimate dimensions (including the thicknesses) are****

The finish on acoustic instruments has a significant part to play(no pun intended...ok it was intended)in the final sound of an instrument. For example, a clear finish and a satin finish will make identical models sound different(less brightness for the silk finish).

Between the finish and the age of the original Stradivarius, it will be difficult to match the sound even with correct dimensions and woods. Also the sound of those Strads has changed over the years, so nobody alive today really knows what a contemporary instrument really sounded like.

Of course these are small differences and not very noticeable to most people, but the players can easily tell.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Satin and clear are mainly optical effects. Unless the stiffness was different or the thickness, a blind test shouldn’t know the difference.

[Tainan]

I seem to remember an article several years ago on the topic of reproducing Strads. A lot of emphasis was placed upon, of course, the wood types used and the aging and drying processes - both prior to and after assembly.
Another factor that was deemed to be very significant was the composition of the glues and varnished used. So much so as to be considered one of the most important influences on the resulting acustic signatures of the completed instruments.

I like this use of technology in solving this musical riddle.

[bgill]

Between the finish and the age of the original Stradivarius, it will be difficult to match the sound even with correct dimensions and woods. Also the sound of those Strads has changed over the years, so nobody alive today really knows what a contemporary instrument really sounded like.

Bingo. Not to mention that the same instrument can sound different with each player. It's similar to in Harry Potter, the wand choses the wizard. When lil miss was getting a new instrument the owner of the best place in the state worked with her for over an hour trying this one and that one. Some were beautiful, others caused ear bleeding. We kept going back to one each time. After she had decided on it, the owner played it to show her that their two sounds were different. It was futher proved when lil miss' teacher had the same brand but she also produced a different sound.