A Question

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Mr Peabody

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All the talk of differences in cables and components had me wonder about this.
Can the difference between a C note of a $200.00 student violing and let's say a Stradivarius be measured?

Like maybe if both were recorded on exact same equipment then shown on an oscilloscope.
 
Mr Peabody said:
All the talk of differences in cables and components had me wonder about this.
Can the difference between a C note of a $200.00 student violing and let's say a Stradivarius be measured?

Like maybe if both were recorded on exact same equipment then shown on an oscilloscope.
Click to expand...

I think you would want a spectrum analyzer.
 
I believe there has to be some measurable difference.

I watched a tv show about a classic 300 year old Strad violin and cello (if I remember correctly) compared against more modern versions of the instruments. They even had panels of professional musicians and music enthusiasts. While most sounded very good, the Strad versions were clearly better. The Strads had more body and tone to the music. It was pretty amazing to hear even though the television. Some instruments were close but I’m sure in person, it might have been easier to tell.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Can the difference between a C note of a $200.00 student violing and let's say a Stradivarius be measured?
Click to expand...
Yes, acoustic sound waves are measurable. What isn't as easily "measured", is human perceptions of said sound waves...and combined light waves, memory, etc, etc. in the CPU.
Because that is not an acoustic measurement.

cheers,

AJ
 
nd then we have listening sessions : https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/05/million-dollar-strads-fall-modern-violins-blind-sound-check

https://www.npr.org/sections/health...arius-violin-easier-to-hear-science-says-nope

I guess it depends. For example: My 1950 Martin D-28 Brazilian rosewood appraised between $10k and $12k vs a direct copy of a Blueridge BR-260 Brazilian Rosewood ( now worth $3,500) same top wood, same fret board material, same tuners, same strings, same bridge and tone peg materials and the same player same song,same notes and most people can't tell them apart. So it all depends.
 
I wonder if that applies to acoustic guitars? I have heard from players that they think the guitar getting better sounding the longer it is played.
 
If you measure one violin, one player & one venue, then come back the next day and do the same measurements, the results will be different. There is little repeatability in acoustic measurements of this type.
 
Shadowfax said:
The reason the older ones sounded better was the age and density of the wood used, that is no longer used today.
Click to expand...

I would think its not that it’s no longer used, it’s no longer available and the little that is is probably protected or price prohibitive with more weight towards protection


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
Shadowfax said:
The reason the older ones sounded better was the age and density of the wood used, that is no longer used today.
Click to expand...

Not to mention the design. The bracing and its placement has a lot to do with the resonance of the woods used. Neck design and neck woods as well, and something as simple as the pick and pressure can impact sound.
 
I mainly used the violins as an example.
I'm curious as to what differences in sound can be measured. I know this is a huge subject.

I'd rather listen than tinker though.
 
I had a customer bring in a Stradivarius once back when I was running a store in Syracuse. The difference with him playing his Stradivarius versus his other "concert" violin was quite remarkable. Very much more musical and involving to my ears. The sound just sort of sucked you in; I was very impressed!

However that was a one time only experience for me.
 
Mr Peabody said:
All the talk of differences in cables and components had me wonder about this.
Can the difference between a C note of a $200.00 student violing and let's say a Stradivarius be measured?

Like maybe if both were recorded on exact same equipment then shown on an oscilloscope.
Click to expand...

What is usually used is a spectrogram (edited because my iPhone thinks it knows what word I want better than I do) funny though it can always spell Kardashian.
 
CGabriel said:
What is usually used is a spectrogram (edited because my iPhone thinks it knows what word I want better than I do) funny though it can always spell Kardashian.
Click to expand...

For the point you make, my writing is so horrible when I post on forums, send emails and use texts - it’s embarrassing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
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