A Stroh violin amplifies string vibrations via proximity resonance and horn color

Evidence

Figure 20.1 A Stroh violin uses the principles of the gramophone to amplify violin string vibration, and in fact borrows gramophone parts, such as the reproducer seen on the right. The string vibrates the reproducer membrane, which provides a large amplification through proximity resonance (source loading). The horn is not quite the speaking trumpet (longer with a very large bell) it perhaps should have been; it colors the violin sound with tube resonances, contributing, however, to the Stroh violin’s unique sound. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1861

Categorization

• DEFINE: Names ‘proximity resonance (source loading)’ as the amplification mechanism uniting gramophone and violin principles.
• XREF: The term ‘source loading’ ties back to earlier chapters’ treatment of horn loading in acoustic amplification.