The Fiddle Riddle: Why Are Strads Worth Millions?
Cremona Gossip, Clubbing with Josh Bell & The Strad Mystery
The photo above is my di Falco violin, also Italian, but certainly not as impeccable as the alpha of all violins: The Stradivarius.
Here’s the thing about the Stradivarius mystery: everyone is looking for a single answer, a lone variable that can be isolated, replicated, bottled up and sold. But the truth, as always, is far more complicated.
Earlier today, I posted a note asking if anyone knew why Strads were so expensive and rare. No one knew, and I’m not surprised as it doesn’t seem to be publicly acknowledged, no matter how deeply you mine the geek forums.
My violin teacher had a Guarneri del Gesu, also worth millions, which had a richer, darker sound than a Strad. Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù was a contemporary of Antonio Stradivari, and came from a family of luthiers. Stradivari was more of an innovator, and his instruments were brilliant, brighter, crisper, and a bit more powerful thanks to the narrower belly.
When I heard the White Birch theory, I was fascinated. I don’t remember if I saw it in a documentary, or if the secret was disclosed to me by a wise elder in hushed tones, but I so wanted to believe this theory, alas it was debunked by a Debbie Downer. More on the White Birch theory in a second…