Comparison of the frequency response of new and old violins obtained with a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer

It is a common belief held by many violinists that violins that have been subjected to more vibrations (i.e. played more) have a superior sound quality. However, this claim is not well defined or researched. In order to test this claim scientifically, baseline measurements of the violins must be taken and the variability among violins should be determined. One measurement that provides a standard for each violin is recording the frequency response of the top plate of the violin, where most of the sound is produced, when the bridge is vibrated. A scanning laser Doppler vibrometer was used to measure the frequency response and create a visual representation of the vibration of the violin. As part of a larger experiment to determine the effect of mechanical vibration on new instruments, data was collected from four violins: one well-worn 2009 Yamaha, and three 2018 Andre Tellis violins. It was predicted that the Yamaha would have a different frequency response than the other three. The bridge of each violin was stimulated by a shaker producing periodic chirps, which covers the frequency range 20Hz to 20kHz, the auditory range of humans. We found a noticeable difference in the frequency response of the older violin verses the three newer ones, which is consistent with the hypothesis