Blind testing the world's most famous violins

"Listener evaluations of new and Old Italian violins." Fritz et. al., 2017

[solderbuff]

Same for pianos. People don't realize it, but technology develops and classic music instruments are getting better.

[timokampwerth]

Let's give these things the credit they deserve though.
They are 300+ year old violins that are audably indistinguishable to modern violins, which are crafted to a much higher precision, down to 0, 1mm tolerances.
Stradivarius Instruments are absolutely astonishing for what they are.

[Apophlegmatis]

I'm willing to say Stradavarius instruments were ahead of their time, but we've had so much time to figure out what makes a good violin, I think it would be more surprising if they were still the best today

[patricksanders]

The old violins are valued and treasured not only for the sound produced, but for their superior craftsmanship...of their day. Modern techniques and materials, not to mention the advanced knowledge built up from the Masters, allows modern instruments to equal and surpass the Masters.

[davidshi]

They're 300 year old antiques that still sound beautiful!

[MukMn]

As a musician, I was taught and I believe that it's less the instrument and more what you do with it. You can watch or listen to a world class musician play on trash and make it sound amazing. That's not to say that quality of instrument doesn't matter. It certainly does matter and as a music teacher I can tell many stories of cheap instruments that sound bad or don't work correctly. But true musicianship comes from inside a person playing the instrument

[mini-mei]

The power of a brand name, or, to simplify it: an idea. The Mona Lisa is the same. She only became so famous in our present time, because she was stolen from the Louvre in 1911. It is a beautiful portrait, but many artists today could create works that are better.

[Howtown]

I actually think it's pretty cool that our experience of music is shaped by the stories we tell about instruments, musicians, and performance spaces - Adam

[sagesufferswell]

Violins are lovely, anything inherently classist is usually overinflated.

[stumcconnel]

Much like the 'audiophile' crowd who insist that their £1000 gold plated mains cables and £8000/m speakers cables sound better than a £20 cable.

[mymo_in_Bb]

i thought you were talking about the most famous instruments as in the piano and violin, and I absolutely agree. I've spent thirteen years learning the piano and then transferred to woodwinds and they're just so much more expressive.

[Homer-OJ-Simpson]

This is true or a lot of things. Wine experts themselves have trouble telling the differences between a $5, 000 bottle of wine and a similar wine that sells for $100. IIRC, once it goes past a certain amount in dollar value ($20-$50), the changes are not noticeable to most wine experts let alone a normal person

[JamesAllredWriter]

You are mighty free with handing out labels, on what do you base your supposition that they have ill gotten or stolen treasures. We could just as easily look at your possessions, and say that you did not legitimately come by them.

[Death_Troopers]

A reminder to look for the best product, not the most glorified!

[bobbyrandom]

Say what you want, but those who have heard them played live know that they are special. That's not downplaying modern instruments at all, buy saying they aren't special is nonsense.

I got to listen to "Vesuvius" played live at the Accademia in Florence and it lived up to it's reputation of being unbelievably loud for such a small instrument. Great museum btw, worth a detour :)

[ncocraft]

To me the fact that musicians couldn't tell the difference between an instrument that is hundrets of years old and a new one is incredibly impressive! He must have been leagues ahead of his time.

[Ana_crusis]

It doesn't surprise me I've heard of these studies before but it's absolutely typical. It applies in all walks of life there's a vast amount of pomposity and snobbishness that goes into all of these things. It's like snooty little people thinking they can only drink so-called great wines etc

[heathbecker]

Hold up. The fact that they are 300 years old and play as well as they day they were made and literally set the standard by which the new instruments were modeled means they are kind of under-rated? Sure.

[TwentyZZ]

We need more channels like this. Glad I discovered you guys

[kartik]

New favorite channel. Love your stuff guys!