Scientists pierce 'secret' of Stradivarius violin -- in part

[oncosinos]

As a cientist myself, this is an absolutelly ridiculous try by science. If science could unrevaill all secrets of nature, the problems of existence would not even be touched. Sad try. Unfortunatelly medicine follows the same trend. Science is only another kind of religion. A poorer one. If for instance you desconstruct the Brugges Cathedral in order to "understand" the purity of the light that enters through it during a winter day, you will desconstruct the way for this same light to come in.

[an50331]

@oncosinos well if it is true that all human emotions are created by complex chemical reactions in the brain (which is most certainly is) than even the most divine, religious experience can be explained by science

its just that because we dont understand it that we think it does not have a scientific answer.

[zalzankavol2]

This story is incorrect. The mistake researchers have made is a case of not seeing the forest for the trees." A study was done, published in acoustic guitar magazine, that showed how mere vibrations effect cellular changes that make an instrument more responsive the more it is played. They attached new guitars to vibration machines that had measurable effects on sound quality. In other words, the more you play an instrument, the better it will sound.

[jfkdjfd]

@zalzankavol2 Too right mate. Me, i'm a guitar player, and you're exactly right. None of these scientists must not play music, just study things.

[AngelixArch]

@zalzankavol2

therefore, these preserved instruments have been played out enough to sound that way :P

[rahxephon52]

damn, legendary instruments.

[bersa888]

They have found the reason for such beautiful sound: it's the wood. The trees from which it came had gone through what it called a "little ice age". The forbidding weather had inhibited the tree growth in that region, producing denser, harder wood (visible in the rings of the tree, closer together than normal), which is what give that special resonance to most the instruments. Other elements, such as design, varnish, etc. also played a part, of course.

[1971SuperLead]

@bersa888 Ah yes, the torture the trees endured during the "little ice age" was captured into the wood and then is released again into the music as the violin is played.

Makes perfect sense and is why we are so moved by these violins.

[jimipage6662]

( O.o)

[Judexy22]

It is always possible to pick the Strad sounds out. Cannot explain in words, but the exceptional sounds are there ! Of course you must be used to listening and compare for many years.

[NotaBanjo]

@FenrirLupus Ah, sweet. It's just I'm a bassoonist, and the best sounding bassoons have the tiger stripes applied by covering with clay, scraping over with a metal comb, and then burning with a blow torch. There is a natural stripe in the wood, but the additional markings seem to add to the overall quality of the instrument. Because I've read so much about how the wood seems to have been lightened/rotted/preserved/alt­ered under mysterious circumstances, I was curious if the same held true...

[mysteryperson1976]

One of the stories that I heard was that he lived during colder winters, making the tree rings even denser, which gave it a more vibrant sound. Google search the stradivarius mystery, and there's a film from the Weather Channel about it.

[MsDolphinqueen]

I know. We met between dimensions. Antonio shared his story with me. Remarkable and so simple was his recipe.

[NotaBanjo]

Does anyone know if that strad's tiger stripes were just from the wood or applied?

[Jadeismycolor]

It's not really a "secret", even a newbie with violins like myself knew this years ago.

Thanks for uploading this anyway. :)

[hahabigbully123]

i wish i had one of his instruments

[Makonu2]

The secret is everyone's nuts. It sounds like damn violin. Blindfold some people, tell them to listen, then play a Strad and and some other quality violins and we'll see how many can pick the Strad out.

[ShadowChess1]

Many factors combined play a role in the sound of a Strad.

1. The wood

2. The craftsmanship and exceptional attention to detail

3. The ground coat

4. The varnish

5. Age to allow the wood and varnish to cure

6. Being played

It isn't ONE single factor or "secret".

[zzp1]

You must consider the materials available at that date. No rocketscience either.

Stradivari mad his instruments for the eye mainly, Guarneri for the sound.

Stradivari produced foer the wealthy, Guarneri for the stehgeigers.

Wood was very important. Stradivai used the best woods available, Guarneri those of demolished sheds or barns, nevertheless sometimes 150 y.o.

Guarneri sold many blanks, non varnished instruments.

So, do not believe all those hype about varnishes.

[frenchiecocorico1]

@zzp1 Yes you're absolutely right. French scientists demonstrate too varnish hasn't any positive action on the sound. The varnish usefulness is first to protect from moisture and chemical attacks, secondly a decorative role. Stradivarius didn't prepared the varnish himself but he bought it in the hardware shop at the street corner. Every professional luthier knows varnish must not penetrated in the wood to avoid deafening the resonating. They realise first a waterproofing with bone glue.

[gwb911]

every Stradivarius i've heard sounds like crap through a mic... gotta EQ the shit outta it.... peace.

[dickravis]

@gwb911 A): pretty sure stradivari wasn't worried about how a technology that was still 200 years in the future was going to translate his craft.

and B): i call complete and utter bullshit on you having even been in the same room with, let alone run sound for, even a single strad.

[dickravis]

i read 'stradavari's genius' and the book strongly suggests that the source of his maple was effected by a period of severely cold weather and thus the grain was more dense.

yeah, the varnish was key as well, but my money is on the maple back being essential to his tone.

read the book if you want to know a little more than this 2 minute and 17 second youtube piece or my comment.

[vonlubcke]

@thecopykidofthestarz what about guarneri sound?

[dickravis]

@thecopykidofthestarz: you might want to dig into a little english 101 before you take that science class.

that aside, what you are suggesting is akin to alchemy; you want to make something that is priceless from the ordinary.

i hope you'll understand that i'm betting against you.

[thecopykidofthestarz]

@dickravis I had no regard to Grammar due to the fact that this is Youtbe,

No one Gives A Crap, as long as its readable.

Finally. ordinary can hold many priceless and amazing things that go beyond money, Today ordinary Is Science and progress, people need to break out of the foolish bonds of nostalgia, Get over it and move on.

Especially Violins, I would Understand if I wanted to turn Chaplin studios into an apartment complex, but that is not the case; the Violin, it needs to evolve.

[AngelixArch]

@thecopykidofthestarz

And become what? Another instrument of the terrible modern 'music'? If you meant in sound and quality, then maybe okay, but the originals will always be better... Same with those Ereaders... A book in hand will always be better to read than a computer device...

[PredictThisProphecy]

@AngelixArch if more people were like you we'd still be using horses to get about. Progress is a good thing.... An e-book has the pictures and the text of a real book (the substance). So all you want is the paper and glue holding it together. Seems kind of pointless to me. be slightly more open minded....

[AngelixArch]

@PredictThisProphecy

Hey, I don't mind the idea of progression, as long as it doesn't compromise the already existing things and ideas that we enjoy. There are two factors to an e-book... It's convenient and useful to keep on oneself especially if you're on a trip and don't want to bring your entire library with you... But then again, it also is a danger to regular good, old fashion books. I guess I'm just used to the smell of a book o.o So really, there are two sides to this :P

[gal23ocsi1]

@dickravis ...... and should not forget the time :200 years , time to "dry" the wood in natural circumstances.(Only air moisture )

[GeralmyJ]

Gauo

[XFuzionStudio]

I don't understand! o.o

[Berrymore84]

what a great piece of knowledge to share!

[OrphanPaper]

ha ,ha .

logic dictates

the neck bonding/strength reducing distortion in the cavity when played

or the gost of stratacaster plays it

ha ha

or