The key to Stradivari's tone
Antique violins may have been chemically tuned.
Simple pest control techniques may have given rise to the greatest violins ever made. Biochemists say the key to the instrument's sweet sounds come not only from their construction but also from chemicals used to treat wood.
Read the story here.
Comments
I'm a scientist born in the province of Cremona and I'm really glad to see that our violins are able to bring up interest not only for musicians, but for scientists too!
Posted by: Anna Marabotti | November 30, 2006 09:22 AM
I am a scientist, a fairly good violinist, and a happy owner of a Nagyvary violin.
Simply put, Joseph Nagyvary is a genius, and deserves all the accolades he has received, because he indeed discovered the secret of the Stradivarius, Guarnieri, and other great Cremona instruments.
The proof is in the superb quality of Nagyvary violins. Nagyvary routinely makes violins that are virtually indistinguishable in sound quality from real Strads and Guarnieris. This can be proven by anyone that listens to a Nagyvary instrument, and compare it to the sound of a real Stradivarius played side by side. Nagyvary has conducted such public side by side comparisons dozens of times with live audiences, and the results were always the same: his violins are indistinguishable from the sound of the great Cremona instruments. Thus your own ears can validate the Nagyvary claims. Objective scientific data confirms what your ear will tell you. Indeed, the harmonic spectrum produced by a Nagyvary instrument which determines the tonal quality of the violin can be compared to the harmonic spectrum produced by a Stradivarius, and once again, the objective test confirms what your ear tells you: that Nagyvary's violins are indistinguishable from a $10 million Strad. Considering that very few can afford the $10 million price tag of a real Strad, Nagyvary's achievement is extraordinary, and will allow happy violinists like me to enjoy the same sound of a great Cremona instrument at a 99.9% price reduction.
Posted by: Istvan Simon | November 30, 2006 02:28 PM
Relationship between entomology, toxicology, pest control and violin making:
I am in entomology discussion list (Entomo-L) and I saw this story there,
As a jobless entomologist/ toxicologist and recently pest control, I made two great, real violins, one guitar and some Kamancheh (an Iranian string instrument) about 40 years ago during my high school years.
Musical instrument making and specially violin making is a love and I really was feeling this love behind making my violins during my teen years, each took for me more than a year to make with ordinary tools. I just used walnut wood with no treatment.
After my PhD here in Guelph, going back to Iran I struggled to make a scientific basis for pesticide use with some success but finally had to come back to Guelph Sept./ 2003 and since then I am jobless surviving on charities.
Regards,
Ahmad Mahdavi,
Guelph, Ontario.
biomahda@yahoo.ca
Home (519)780-2676.
Posted by: Ahmad Mahdavi | December 2, 2006 09:24 PM
In my experience, the key to a good sounding violin is using quality wood, and proper thicknessing of the top and bottom plates. I don't believe in a magic varnish, but you should use a flexible and slow drying one. Re-varnishing an old violin is a no-no!!
I have crafted several instruments that I have sold for about $ 15,000. I have mostly retired as a luthier, but I still buy, repair and sell a few instrument. I currently have a collection of 11 good instruments, including a Testore, Bernardel, Palliot, Grancino, and a few more recent models. You can contact me by mail at "Thomas violin works", 391 Delaronde Rd, Saskatoon Canada, S7J 3Y5.
Posted by: Thomas Kirk, Saskatoon | December 5, 2006 02:02 AM
Does anyone knows or own violin made by David Scroggins ( aloha violin) in honolulu but previously in chicago. Your input about the price you paid and the quality of the sound would be greatly appreciated
Posted by: nader | April 20, 2007 02:07 PM
Nader, I saw on Violinist.com, the editor, Laurie Niles said she purchased one made by Dave Scroggins. I also had him set up my violin. He's expensive but he did an awesome job on my violin.
Posted by: Mike Morton | July 5, 2007 01:16 PM