# Is there anything physically distinct about the wood and finish of Stradivari's instruments? · Stradivari "secret" > Five answers have been proposed. Stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGP34147N/is-there-anything-physically-distinct-about-the-wood-and Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:53+00:00 --- **0** # Is there anything physically distinct about the wood and finish of Stradivari's instruments? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·5 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Five answers have been proposed. Stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),… leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Four are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, one is answered. ## Why it matters Physical differences, if real, are the candidate causes of any tonal difference and a key to the makers' methods⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGDHP4RVE/chemical-distinctions-between-stradivaris-maple-and-modern)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGDSG1YB4/materials-engineering-of-violin-soundboards-by-stradivari)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGF8C7G8P/a-comparison-of-wood-density-between-classical-cremonese-and). ## Answers 5 [**Stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGS0W59AR/stradivari-and-guarneri-treated-their-wood-with-mineral) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**The chemical differences come from three centuries of ageing and playing, not deliberate treatment.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGT0451X6/the-chemical-differences-come-from-three-centuries-of-ageing) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGW6E3RTK/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The spruce grew unusually evenly, through the cold of the Maunder Minimum or selection.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGTQJ4PKN/the-spruce-grew-unusually-evenly-through-the-cold-of-the) Tested, but the results don't decide it Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed [**The varnish contains a special ingredient that gives the instruments their sound.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/answers/ANS0CQAGVF02NSE/the-varnish-contains-a-special-ingredient-that-gives-the) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Disputed ## History 1. 2003[Burckle & Grissino-Mayer puts forward: the spruce grew unusually evenly, through the cold of the Maunder Minimum or selection.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGFR01KM3/stradivari-violins-tree-rings-and-the-maunder-minimum-a) 1. 2008[Stoel & Borman: cremonese tops have a smaller early/late density difference (183 vs 274 g/l).](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGF8C7G8P/a-comparison-of-wood-density-between-classical-cremonese-and)For: The spruce grew unusually evenly, through the cold of the Maunder Minimum or selection. 1. 2009[Nagyvary et al.: wood ash from four Cremonese instruments contains BaSO4, CaF2, borate and ZrSiO4.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGE945BGR/mineral-preservatives-in-the-wood-of-stradivari-and-guarneri)For: Stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),… 1. 2010[Echard et al. puts forward: the varnish contains a special ingredient that gives the instruments their sound.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGEGY6T92/the-nature-of-the-extraordinary-finish-of-stradivaris) 1. 2010[Echard et al.: five Stradivari finishes consist of a drying-oil base and an oil, pine resin and pigment layer, with no…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGEGY6T92/the-nature-of-the-extraordinary-finish-of-stradivaris)Against: The varnish contains a special ingredient that gives the instruments their sound. 1. 2012[Stoel et al.: no significant difference in median density between Cremonese, other classical and modern violins.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGFG61SKN/wood-densitometry-in-17th-and-18th-century-dutch-german)Against: The spruce grew unusually evenly, through the cold of the Maunder Minimum or selection. 1. 2017[Tai et al.: maple from four Stradivari instruments and a Guarneri shows mineral profiles (Al, Ca, Cu, Na, K, Zn) unlike…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGDHP4RVE/chemical-distinctions-between-stradivaris-maple-and-modern)For: Stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),… 1. 2017[Tai et al.: stradivari's violin maple, but not his cello maple, shows unusual thermo-oxidation patterns, which ageing…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGDHP4RVE/chemical-distinctions-between-stradivaris-maple-and-modern)Against: The chemical differences come from three centuries of ageing and playing, not deliberate treatment. 1. 2017[Tai et al.: hemicellulose loss and lignin oxidation are partly attributed to age and vibration by the same authors.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGDHP4RVE/chemical-distinctions-between-stradivaris-maple-and-modern)For: The chemical differences come from three centuries of ageing and playing, not deliberate treatment. 1. 2021[Su et al. puts forward: stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGDSG1YB4/materials-engineering-of-violin-soundboards-by-stradivari) 1. 2021[Su et al.: spruce soundboards show unnatural elemental compositions and oxidation patterns.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGDSG1YB4/materials-engineering-of-violin-soundboards-by-stradivari)For: Stradivari and Guarneri treated their wood with mineral solutions (borax, sulphates, salt, alum, alkali),… 1. 2022[Stani et al.: a thin protein-based layer lies between wood and varnish on two violins.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CQAGF0J5KQD/a-nanofocused-light-on-stradivari-violins-infrared-s-snom)For: The varnish contains a special ingredient that gives the instruments their sound. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGP34147N/is-there-anything-physically-distinct-about-the-wood-and%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGP34147N/is-there-anything-physically-distinct-about-the-wood-and%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGP34147N/is-there-anything-physically-distinct-about-the-wood-and%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGP34147N/is-there-anything-physically-distinct-about-the-wood-and%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGP34147N/is-there-anything-physically-distinct-about-the-wood-and%23add-source) Where it fits Stradivari "secret" **Is there anything physically distinct about the wood and finish of Stradivari's instruments?** Key question · you're here [If the materials differ, do the differences change the sound?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGPAY7VZ1/if-the-materials-differ-do-the-differences-change-the-sound)Most likely · the material differences exist but have no reliable audible effect [Is the Messiah violin by Stradivari?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/stradivari-secret/questions/QST0CQAGPJR4XFR/is-the-messiah-violin-by-stradivari)Answered · The Messiah is a Stradivari of about 1716. 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