CT scans of Stradivarius violins

[Nick Payne]

Interesting article on the BBC web site at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7484975.stm. The claim is that a mini-Ice Age around that time caused the growth rate of trees to be more uniform Summer and Winter, leading to timber with less density variation.

[sebastiaan56]

I love the last line in this article "But if you are a lousy violin maker and use the best wood, you will still end up with a very bad violin."

I saw a profile program on a Sydney Violin Maker on SBS awhile ago and the comment from the concert violinist playing it was "If this violin had a famous name on it it would be worth six figures". i think the market for these instuments perpetuates the myth. I think the sames goes on with Load Lloar mandos and older Martin guitars. im, sure that some of the work posted on this forum will sound just as good as these famous instruments in 10, 20 , 30 years time.

[Hesh1956]

Check out the buzz on the OLF regarding this story.....http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopi ... 01&t=17835

[kiwigeo]

I have a scientific paper written some years back that discusses this subject. On the job right now but when I get home Ill post up references to same.

Cheers Martin

[Dominic]

I saw a profile program on a Sydney Violin Maker on SBS awhile ago and the comment from the concert violinist playing it was "If this violin had a famous name on it it would be worth six figures". i think the market for these instuments perpetuates the myth. I think the sames goes on with Load Lloar mandos and older Martin guitars. im, sure that some of the work posted on this forum will sound just as good as these famous instruments in 10, 20 , 30 years time.

Well said seb. With the shared knowledge and ideas we can get from forums like this there is no reason they can't be even better.
Dom