Blind tests show new violins beat Stradivaris for most soloists
Evidence
A paper by Fritz et al. (2014) reports results of elaborate blind evaluations of six new and six Old Italian violins (including five by Stradivari). The players were “significant” professional soloists and the evaluations were done in a rehearsal room and in a small concert hall. The result was that when asked to choose a violin to replace their own for a hypothetical tour, 6 of the 10 soloists chose new violins. In the individual ratings, a single new violin was chosen four times, a single Stradivari three times, and two new violins and a Stradivari once each. Tracking those instruments that soloists rejected as unsuitable, the new violins prevailed by a 6:1 ratio. So, to 10 performers, seven of whom routinely play Old Italian violins, the new—much less expensive—alternatives were very attractive. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 43
Categorization
- CANDY: In blind tests, professional soloists mostly preferred new violins to Stradivaris — a perfect party fact about how bias shapes what we revere.
- SEED: Article angle: how reputation and price tag blind us to quality — from violins to wine to loudspeakers, the blind-test effect.
- XREF: connects to: Renowned violinists cannot reliably distinguish Stradivarius violins from modern ones by listening