Quantifying the cumulative effects of sustained excitation on the vibrational response and radiated sound of violins: Preliminary results
Kourtney Adkisson, Andrew A. Piacsek · The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America · 2020
There is a widely accepted belief among luthiers and performers that consistent playing of stringed instruments, especially in the violin and lute families, is associated with improved sound and playability. Because it is thought that a new instrument needs to be played for some time in order to achieve its performance potential, many luthiers “pre-vibrate” new instruments before they are sold or delivered to customers. Very few studies have been performed to investigate the effect of artificial stimulation of new stringed instruments and the phenomenon of “playing-in” is still poorly understood. A long-term project underway at Central Washington University seeks to measure changes in vibrational and acoustic response that can be attributed to sustained mechanical stimulus. Three new sibling violins (same model and month of manufacture) were recently acquired: one is a control, while the other two will be mechanically excited at the bridge with a broadband signal, each with a different amplitude, continuously for several months. Prior to initiating the sustained excitation, a thorough study was conducted of the variability and uncertainty in measurements of the vibrational and acoustic response of each violin; this will serve as a baseline for interpreting the significance of subsequent changes.