Answer · Stradivari "secret"

The mineral treatment and aged wood change plate stiffness and damping enough to be heard.

Still possibleAnswers 1 questionPublished0

Where it stands

Still possibleIts tests haven't settled it: one piece of evidence for, none against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

What it predicts

Treated replica plates differ measurably in stiffness and damping; blind listeners detect the difference.

What would rule it out

Matched treated and untreated instruments indistinguishable in measurement and blind listening.

Evidence 1 for · none against

Altered cellulose nanostructure in heavily treated Stradivari samples.

Speculative

FOR

The questions it answers

If the materials differ, do the differences change the sound?

Part of Is there anything physically distinct about the wood and finish of Stradivari's instruments?

Most likelyThe material differences exist but have no reliable audible effect

Cite it

Mysteries Department. (2026). The mineral treatment and aged wood change plate stiffness and damping enough to be heard. [Answer ANS0CQAGWE850PX]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0CQAGWE850PX

@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0cqagwe850px,
  title     = {The mineral treatment and aged wood change plate stiffness and damping enough to be heard.},
  author    = {{Mysteries Department}},
  year      = {2026},
  note      = {Answer, catalog key ANS0CQAGWE850PX},
  url       = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0CQAGWE850PX}
}