A Dutch researcher from the Leiden University Medical Center first demonstrated the reward of using medical examination tools to analyze classical music instruments. Famous artisan, Dr. Berend Stoel placed classical violins including many made by Stradivarius, into a medical instrument called the CT scanner. The similarities of the thickness of the wood from which the classical violin was made in relation to modern violins, may tell why the classical violin has superior sound output.
Experts are capitulated by the concept of the classical Cremonese violins from famous violinists such as Stradivan are still unique in the ways of tone quality and sound projection. Technical progression over 300 years has not given a vast amount of advances towards achieving the uniqueness of the classical violin makers. Up until now, it has been almost impossible to study the classical violin without taking some risk of damaging the instrument.
Dr. Stoel having the knowledge of lung density has come up with a new computer program to study the wood thickness of the classical violin from the CT scan. The modern violin related to the classical violin did not differ much as far as wood thickness and density.
The researchers have concluded the difference in wood thickness touch on vibration efficacious and therefore the output of sound. This break through may provide the reasons for the high quality of these violins. This perceptiveness offers new possibilities into duplicating the tonal characters of these old instruments. Therefore, the CT scan has really made a difference in comparing the wood of different instruments.