I’ve always been fascinated by violins. I remember as a child sitting in my room and putting on an old record of Isaac Stern’s greatest hits and gesturing wildly as if I were playing the violin. Alas we were not able to afford the price of violin lessons or an actual violin. Instead I cut my chops on classical acoustic guitar, piano, opera and drunkin’ grooving … also badly played bongos, and wanna be rock star electric guitar (I need a new amp if anyone wants to donate 
)
Getting back to the reason for this post … The one violin that was always mystical and fascinating to dream about were the famous Stradivarius violins. No one I knew every really understood much about these violins except they were of unparalleled quality and could cost millions of dollars. Because of this lack of knowledge I usually attributed the amazing qualities of Stradivarius’s creations to his selling of his soul to Satin, and such things.
Alas, science has foiled me again. Apparently a Dr and a Violin Maker got together and put some of these majestic beauties under a CT scan. They now clam that the famous Stradivarius violins get their power from the density of the wood. Density of wood effects sound quality so … this might be why they produce such a fine quality of sound. They even published this data in a journal (though I wouldn’t hang my hat on this, I don’t believe that this journal is very well known).
It’s interesting but I’d rather believe in the mysticism of the wood and selling your soul to Satin.
Hasn’t science done enough! Dam you lab coat magicians …
