CT Scans Help Researchers Perfect Replicas of Stradivarius Violins
- Posted on November 30, 2011 at 7:13pm by
Liz Klimas
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History’s greatest violin maker, Antonio Stradivari, lived from 1644 to 1737 and there are currently only 650 violins of his left in existence. What’s captivating about these instruments is the sound quality they produce, especially after so many years.
Stradivari violins are a quality of instrument that many have tried to replicate with little success, but some recent insight into the inner workings of the violin may help. There are many theories as to what makes the instrument play so well, such as wood type or treatments, but with so few left, these musical artifacts are protected from anyone wanting to pry them open to find out.
Here’s where the researchers from the Radiological Society of North America and X-ray technology come in. The Daily Mail reports that the researchers spent two years taking CT scans of the instrument, getting measurements of every nook and cranny, to make an exact replica — inside and out. It is perhaps what was found inside that is interesting to some.
1704 Stradivari Betts violin. (Photo: RSNA via Daily Mail)
The Daily Mail has more:
“CT scanning offers a unique method of imaging a historical object — in a non-invasive way,” said Steven Sirr, M.D., a radiologist at FirstLight Medical Systems.
“Combined with computer-aided machinery, it also offers us the opportunity to create a reproduction with a high degree of accuracy.”
To create a violin with the same characteristics as the 1704 instrument known as ‘Betts’ Dr. Sirr worked with professional violin makers John Waddle and Steve Rossow of St. Paul, Minnesota.
[...]
Dr. Sirr, an amateur violinist, first scanned a violin with CT out of curiosity.
“I assumed the instrument was merely a wooden shell surrounding air,” he said.
“I was totally wrong. There was a lot of anatomy inside the violin.”
This revelation may help not only to build cheap reconstructions of the violins — but help design new generations of instruments.
The CT scans provided the measurements needed to exactly replicate the physical elements of the Betts Stradivari. (Photo: RSNA via Daily Mail)
Take a look at the CT scans — including an inside view:
The Waddle and Rossow took 1,000 images of Betts and converted them to files that could be read by a computer controlled router that would then custom make the replica. The replica was hand assembled and varnished.
Replicated piece next to the original. (Photo: RSNA via Daily Mail)
In additional to being closer to better replicating the famous violins for today’s musicians — Stradivari in existence are not played –the men also see an application in the CT scanning to help authenticate violins and reveal damage. The Daily Mail reports that this summer one of the violins sold at auction for $15.9 million.
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Tewie
Posted on December 3, 2011 at 3:46pmThese scientific explorations, like the CT scan, as impressive as they are, cannot replicate the passion or the Soul of Antonio Stradivari’s masterpiece.
Report Post »Protoham
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 11:48pmI don’t care, violins have always sounded like sick cats to me!
Report Post »inferno
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:44pmThis is something one should not fiddle around with !
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:32pmgimme a git-tar any day
Report Post »schroeder123
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 2:18pmI prefer the Banjo ! always out of tune !
Report Post »Captain Sam
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:18pmInteresting but only a Strad can b a Strad. Antonio Stradivari was the master and he destroyed the recipie for his varnish, and the trees from which they were made are long gone. Also it is incorrect that Strads in existance are not played. They are SELDOM played. Itzhak Perlman plays using the antique Soil Stradivarius violin of 1714, formerly owned by Yehudi Menuhin and considered to be one of the finest violins made during Stradivari’s “golden period”. Perlman also plays the Sauret Guarneri del Gesu of c.1743 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67IqeB0JLs4
Report Post »qenginerd
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:15pmI agree that the Strad will always be the standard that violins will be measured against, but I believe a great deal can be learned about mapping the densities and growth ring characteristics of great violins, and quantifying the materials that are desired for new violins.
I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Waddle in his shop and hear about this process first hand while my violin was being serviced several years ago. It is truly fascinating the artistry that goes into this process, not just technology.
Report Post »TheSitRep
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 11:12amIt seems to me that we could produce plastic resins that could closely mimic the characteristics of the woods used in fine instruments down to hardness, density and even air pockets.
Report Post »TheSoundCellar
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:42pmThat has in fact, been done. A luthier who had worked with some of the finest and most renowned electric guitars, knew that much of their exceptional sound was due to the age, density and characteristics of their wood. So he had scientists come up with a polymer to match these characteristics. It was called “Vibracell” and he launched the Switch guitar brand. Unfortunately, the company failed (maybe music stores wanted to keep selling multi-thousand dollar vintage guitars instead). Luckily, I got one of the last ones for my recording studio. Being molded, the neck and body are one piece, and unlike wooden guitars it is impervious to temp and humidity. Many recording artists set their guitars aside to use the switch instead. They marvel at the guitar’s ability to produce sounds ranging from a warm Les Paul to a screaming Stratocaster and even a chunky Rickenbacker. Hopefully, the idea will be resurrected for guitars and other instruments as well
Report Post »Reconstructed leftist
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 11:00amWhat kind of journalism allows sentence structure like this?
Report Post »“The Daily Mail reports that the researchers at spent two years taking CT scans of the instrument”
Get a proof reader or another job.
PlowMan
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:57pmGet a job, man! I assume these people work their tail off and write many articles a day. So mistakes are going to happen. The mistakes did not take away from the article. Sure they play these masterpieces, just not very darn offten.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:18amWhy in the world would this article state that, “Stradivari in existence are not played ” Of course they are still played, google it.
Report Post »Reconstructed leftist
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 11:07amThis is a strangely written article. Not only is the statement about them not being played completely wrong…. it’s totally out of context. And then there’s the grammatical errors or typos or whatever they are.
Report Post »trinity729
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:58pmActually, the Stradivari MUST be played at least occasionally to retain their characteristic sound. The varnish has micro-cracks that create the characteristic resonance. Without playing these cracks ‘heal’ for lack of a better word. I’m curious to hear what these replicas will sound like!
Report Post »80mesh
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 9:28am“You can make an exact copy by measurement but the FACT is we don’t have the same old growth tone-woods anymore and IF you COULD lay you hands on them the FBI would break down your door, point guns at you, and throw you in jail. Face it. We DO NOT live in a free country. The liberals have destroyed liberty. We need to throw them out!”
nahh nahh nahh ..youz guyz juzt dont get it
donate to the great zero and you are carte blanche to break any laws
Report Post »wyofiddler
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:42pmNO. “I may disprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” – Voltaire you fool! How can you claim that a group of people is destroying liberty just because they are of a different political background, and say we should throw them out of the Country! You claim that they have destroyed liberty but you yourself have proposed to deny them their rights and deport them based on their political beliefs!!!
Report Post »wyofiddler
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 5:43pmWhoops I meant “…say it” – Voltaire. You fool…”
Report Post »V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:33amViolins are of Satan.
Report Post »Carter John
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 11:23amWe have now found our Grand Inquisitor, Ferdinand and Isabella would be proud.
Report Post »Voteman
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:18pmThe Devil did go down to Georgia…
Report Post »SkepticalBoomer
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:51pm‘Violins are of Satan.”-V-MAN MACE
Well so is ignorance, but you seem pretty comfortable with that.
Report Post »gsplgtr
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 8:19amIf they really wanted to know the workings of the Strad, there was one they could have asked. But alas he passed away over one year ago. His name was Philip J. Petillo. He was one of only three American masters on call to the Louvre Museum in France. His title was Dr Master Wood Luthier Engineer. His five sons, who were apprenticed by him, still carry on the business. His research is still available and accessible through Phil-Lu Inc. I have even read articles where Mr. Petillo had been working on a priceless cello from the 17Th century that was in the care of the aforementioned museum. And a quick note( sorry for the pun) to you guitarists, Mr. Petillo was apprenticed under both James Desirio and John Di Angelico of New York. Mr Petillo‘s clientele was a who’s who of the rock, country, and classical music industry, from Springsteen to Perlman, Itzhak that is.
Report Post »MiloArk
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 6:57amI make my living playing the violin. Played for over forty years; absolutely LOVE the instrument. When I was a kid one of my teachers, a symphony musician, had the extremely good fortune of being able to play a Strad. I also baby-sat for him and his wife, so, of course I had to sneak a couple of tunes on it. Not too much because I was afraid I’d drop it. But that was the most amazing violin! Not just the tone, but the balance. The way it felt in your hands…it practically played itself. Just amazing. But there are some fantastic newer violins being made, and if these folks want to try copying the Strad, I say go for it. You never know, they might stumble onto something even better.
Report Post »On The Silent Wings Of Freedom
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:57amVery little about the finishing process. I have read articles over the years about attempts to decipher the exact proportions of finishing materials used, as well as the method of layering and curing those finishes. The different methods and materials tested produced results that were sonically dissimilar enough to convince researchers that indeed the composition of, method of application and curing of finshes must be considered as a major factor when trying to duplicate a Stradivari instrument.
Report Post »Down2TheC
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 12:28amYou’re wasting your time. It was proven through geology that the wood he was using was from trees that went through unique climate (colder not hotter you dumb green freaks!) that cause very dense rings and a unique tone. It’s not just the shape or it would have been replicated by now. Short of waiting for our own “Little Ice Age”, that would is no longer around for use and thus the Strat will never be matched with wood. Perhaps synthetics will be able to reproduce the resonance some day.
Report Post »rumpleforeskin
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 7:33pmGood point down2. I remember reading something about the wood in relation to the climate and growth of the tree’s during that period. But I would be afraid to reveal owning one because the feds would find some way to take it due to the way they did Gibson.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:57pmYou can make an exact copy by measurement but the FACT is we don’t have the same old growth tone-woods anymore and IF you COULD lay you hands on them the FBI would break down your door, point guns at you, and throw you in jail. Face it. We DO NOT live in a free country. The liberals have destroyed liberty. We need to throw them out!
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 11:31amWow, this article wasn’t even remotely politically inciting. I guess the sky and the water is either liberal or conservative to you
Report Post »Naram-Sin
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:57pmMy son makes violins by hand. While he may copy a Stradivari, each violin is unique and has its own “personality”. This is a lot of what gives an instrument value. There is a lot more that goes into a violin than just copying it with a machine. And if you could and you were able to make them all sound the same, all you would do is make the instrument worthless. It would just be the same as all the others, with no special qualities, and very little value.
(Couldn’t get the video to work.)
Report Post »tommyB
Posted on December 1, 2011 at 1:05amCopies of famous violins obviously can never have the same quality, but what is wrong with trying to emulate greatness and learn from the best craftsmen. A really exacting copy will have some value and benefit the common man that doesn’t have 2 mil to lay out for a violin.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:50pmCT scans won’t help duplicate Stradivarius Violins. Just like taking a CT scan of a Monks brain won’t help you grow a Monk in a test tube. Scientist need to learn the word Intrinsic. The known can never measure the unknown in a lab.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:41pmI will believe it… when I hear it!
Report Post »neverending
Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:54pmBelieve it!
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