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The Real Strad?
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
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Oliver
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January 2, 2012 - 4:26 pm
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When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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CGBownut

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January 2, 2012 - 5:15 pm
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I got it right, but it was just a lucky guess. One thing they do not mention is if all the violins in the test have the same strings on them. 

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Oliver
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January 2, 2012 - 5:32 pm
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I'm sure they do.  I know Joseph Curtin's work and he would NEVER permit different strings. 

(No,no)

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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SaraO
Michigan

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January 2, 2012 - 8:27 pm
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What a neat study!

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
January 2, 2012 - 9:01 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
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I guessed it wrong. For me the second one didn't speak the notes as well. Almost as thought the violinist was pressing too hard on that one. However, I know from experience that great hand made modern instruments can sound as good or better than great old ones. Our orchestra owned a Strad that I have played on and I can sincerely say that many people would have a difficult time making it speak. I've also played on some old Italian instruments that were unbelievable and made you wish that you had never tested them. You're happiest when you don't know what you are missing. ;-)

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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BCShalom
Seattle, WA

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January 3, 2012 - 12:50 pm
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I guessed right, but liked the newer violin better.

 

I have no taste?

 

Shalom Shalom coffee1

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Oliver
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January 3, 2012 - 1:49 pm
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Just thrifty.

violin

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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Kevin M.
Nicholson, Pa
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January 3, 2012 - 2:17 pm
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I quessed right but what's the big deal.  I have a lot of Strads.  It says so inside on hte label.

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thrashercharged
Kokomo, IN

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January 4, 2012 - 12:23 am
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LOL!  Kevin's right, there's lots of violins that say Strad on their inside label, and they're all made in China right?

 

I guessed wrong, and preferred the first too!  So I gather from this test that newer violins feel the same as old world Italian ones?  I suppose the "feel" probably has more to do with the bow, strings and rosin than the violin perhaps?  I never realized that. It's different with pianos as the touch and feel of a Steinway is fairly unique, but I suppose the action on a piano is rather complex and lends to noticeable differences in the way it plays.

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Mad_Wed
Russia, Tatarstan rep. Kazan city
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January 4, 2012 - 4:59 am
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I passed the test... LOL! I don't like Stradivarius violins (don't kill me =)) .. and Amati.. They always have bright flying high notes surprised I liked first more - even soft sound, beautiful! 

Yeah, i'm dummy duncecap 

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Fiddlerman
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January 4, 2012 - 8:37 am
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We're not going to kill you Naska :-)

The way I see it. You have so many more aspects than just who made the instrument. You have the Maker, materials used to build it, current condition of the instrument, current set-up (including sound-post, bridge and strings), and the player.

I've played on many EXPENSIVE violins. Some of them, I would never want if not for their high re-sell value. Others I could only wish I could get my hands on. smile

You can find modern instruments that sound and play as good as almost any old master but you have to hunt like crazy. You could possibly even get lucky enough to buy a cheap instrument that has a sound that is comparable to a great master violin. You would have to work on that violin and it's set-up to get it to that level.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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screeeech

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January 4, 2012 - 10:31 am
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I guessed WRONG but I also prefer the new violinduncecap

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Mustang
Minnesnowda

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January 4, 2012 - 2:25 pm
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I guessed wrong, but I prefer the new violin too. And I agree with you Mad_Wed, I don't like Stradivari violins. I think they're overrated... we might want to be careful, there are a lot of people that would like to hurt us for saying such things. xD

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TerryG
Tn

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January 4, 2012 - 10:31 pm
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Ditto on mustang's remarks. Sometimes it's amazing how we treat something due to a name or the age of something. Like some art I've seeen. It's by s famous person, yet it looks as if a two year old did. It baffles me sometimes. FM was right on. I judge the instrument by the sound not the maker. Who knows maybe my cheap china violin will be worth millions in 500 years. Just being honest and hope I didn't offend anyone.l

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HeadCheese
Plano, Texas

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January 5, 2012 - 8:25 am
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I got it right on the first listen. I don't think it's due to any particular skill or talent on my part, nor was it just guessing. They definitely sounded differently, one from the other. It's that the second one just fit the sound I thought a very mature instrument would sound like to me. This is not to say I thought it necessarily sounded any better than the first, which in my opinion had a sweeter tone. Rather, I think the second violin sounded more "experienced" if that makes any sense at all.

 

If the above sounds like nonsensical prattling on, I blame my lack of coffee this morning...

facepalmcoffee2facepalm

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Mad_Wed
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January 5, 2012 - 1:55 pm
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Mustang said

... we might want to be careful, there are a lot of people that would like to hurt us for saying such things. xD

Haaaa-haaaa!!! Yep! I guess, You're right! /devilwhispering: But still don't like them heeee/.. 

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Joe

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May 20, 2012 - 12:10 am
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i dont think id even want the responsibility

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cdennyb
King for a Day, Peasant for many
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May 23, 2012 - 1:30 am
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I ran some analysis on those recordings to let everyone see what they're hearing.

The-Strad-was-test.jpgImage Enlarger

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"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein

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