From NPR Double-Blind Violin Test: Can You Pick The Strad?

[JRHall]

Very interesting article and audio clips about a double blind comparison of old and new.


http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecaden ... c=fb&cc=fp

[tippie53]

gotta check this out

[Ben-Had]

Well I picked the Strad. Don't know if it was luck but my initial impression was it was smoother sounding. After my ears have been tortured a while I very well may have picked the other, they really were so close.

[Herman]

Me the same, the second sounds more smooth. I guessed that should be the oldest. But I do not like violins, so my vote does not count.
Herman

[Darryl Young]

I picked the wrong one as the Strad. I have no experience with quality violins so didn't know what to listen for so I was just trying to pick the violin with a dry sound from age. The second violin was a bit warmer/fuller sounding to me.......but I can't say I liked it any better, just different.

[johnnparchem]

In the violin world this is a long standing debate. I think it is one of those without a real answer. The general consensous that I see in the violin world is that the best made modern violins are better.

I think there are a couple of reasons why the strads stand out:
The best violinist play them and the best people work on them.

But if a concert violinist feels more confident playing on a particular strad, it does not really matter that the new ones may be technically better or even sound better. The violinist will play better on the instrument that they beleive in. Maybe it is much like Dumbo's feather.

[Ben-Had]

Me the same, the second sounds more smooth. I guessed that should be the oldest. But I do not like violins, so my vote does not count.
Herman

LMAO!!

[JRHall]

I think there are a couple of reasons why the strads stand out:
The best violinist play them and the best people work on them.

I think that's a very important point, you're not going to hear some hack playing a Strad. Only the very best have access to them, and as you say, they are maintained and set up by masters of the craft. In those circumstances, even a student model is going to sound good.