Good wood

I recently stumbled across an interesting website for a Texas violin maker who has made some progress figuring out why Stradivari violins are so remarkable.

According to Dr. Navygary, a retired Texas A&M biochemist, one of the main differences between Stradivarius instruments and others is the wood and varnish used by the maker. He determined through chemical analysis that the wood Stradivari chose was submerged in water for a long period of time, which opened its pores. One of the ingredients in the varnish applied after the violin was constructed was a compound of a crystalline powder with borax, which, partially due to the opened pores, bonded closely to the wood and gave it a particularly resonant quality. Navygary uses a similar process to make new instruments. One of his violins went toe-to-toe with the da Vinci Strad in a blind test and the result was a draw. A panel of 600 experts could not determine whether the instrument they they heard was of Navygary or Stradivari make!

As my skill (and ear) improves, I may eventually acquire one of these instruments. I think they will likely increase in value over time, plus I would love to own and regularly play an instrument of such remarkable tonal quality.