Sound phase is inaudible, but bowing depends on phase-shaped physics.

Evidence

The kink and the resulting sawtooth force as a function of time are very dependent on the relative phasing of the partials, but the power spectrum is independent of the phases. The phases may be scrambled artificially and fed to the bridge with an external vibrating drive with little audible difference. However, the success of bowing in the first place is critically dependent on the Helmholtz mode, discussed here, which is shaped by nonlinear effects. — Eric J. Heller, Why You Hear What You Hear- An…, 1747

Categorization

• QUESTION: Surprising that phase is inaudible in bowed strings yet critical to the mechanism — worth chasing how far inaudibility of phase extends.