Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

A Texas A&M biochemist has stated that he believes that he's uncovered the secret to the tone of Stradivari's violins.

He's stated that Stradivari treated his violins with chemicals to protect them from wood-eating worms common in northern Italy. Unknowingly, the master craftsman gave his violins a chemical noise filter that provided a unique, pleasing sound.

Complete Story

Brilliant. Good for him.

Sure seems like there's some sour grapes, though, among the membership of the Violin Society! So what if the guy is an "entrepreneur"? I never thought of that word as evil!

I think the most telling quote is the last one in the article.

A few years back I saw a documentary on one of the cable channels that showed a researcher that unlocked the secrets of Stradivari's violins. Considering where he lived they surmised that wood was stored in the water (of Venice?) until used. They used some sort of microscope (possibly electron) to look at the cell structure of the wood (of a Strativarius). Through trial and error they found that if uncured wood is stored in water that the sap solidified in a different way compared to just letting it air dry. They also analyzed the finish and determined that there was precious stone in with the varnish.

They went on to build a violin with wood they stored and let somewhat cure in water and the mixed a finish that contained small particles of garnet ground into it. They then took this violin to an expert in this field. At the same time they had a professional violinist there with her Strativarius. The expert looked at their creation and then began to explain to them why this violin would not sound good. The professional played both instruments. The expert was surprised how close they had gotten to the sound of the real thing. Who know maybe in a few hundred years the new violin may sound as good of better. This is obviously a different approach than the above mentioned article.

Very interesting. I have a Stradivarius copy made in Czechoslovakia in 1918. It is an incredible sounding instrument. Too bad it's not a real one though.

Ahhh, science vs. art.... a few bent noses and a few stubbed toes there, eh? Time will tell.

I'm sure it is not as simple as a chemical treatment of the wood, but also the wood itself, maybe the soaking Ken relates, the shaping of the wood, the glues involved, the finishes, construction method, etc.

Another theory is that the wood used to make the instruments were from trees stressed by the Little Ice Age, an event that imparted unique cell structure (and therreby tonal quality) to the wood.

I'd heard the little ice age theory as well, Gary. Apparently people have independently confirmed the wood treatment theory - at least according to good old Paul Harvey on the radio.

They thought since the trees were growing slower, the wood was more dense and therefore affected the sound.

It could be a combination of all the factors ... synchronicity in action!

I'll probably wind up looking up that Nature article because NMR, although non-destructive, is not that sensitive for trace level components in a mixture.

its not the wood!


(sigh...)