The article explained how the long-term relationship with an older violin, which is more 'broken in' but temperamental day-to-day, might be different than with a modern violin, which is more 'dependable' day-to-day but can experience significant shifts in tone as it ages.

Wood also seems to change depending upon how it is used. Conventional wisdom is that a guitar gets "used to" how it is being played. I do like the comments about finding the unique characteristics because every instrument has a personality.

Conventional wisdom in classical guitars ALSO says the guitars have a lifetime. The wood is tight, then it opens up, and then it breaks down gradually over time--roughly 15-20 years for cedar tops and 40 years for spruce tops.

If that is actually true, I suspect that feeds into this study. The Stradivaris, while phenomenal, are long past their peak and are now at the point where they are breaking down from playing and are likely only being preserved by the rarity with which they are being played.

I wonder if the "moderns" used in the study actually had some mileage on them. It would be interesting to see if a 20 years old "modern" with heavy use actually scores better than a 5 year old "modern".

Overall, it's actually good news. I suspect that this is like modern classical musicians, the geniuses are as rare as ever, but the average level of achievement across all classical musicians is WAY higher now than it was even 100 years ago, and certainly moreso than 200-300 years ago.

It means that those of us who can't afford Stradvaris can still get excellent instruments.

I forget the guitarists name, but as a joke his band mates went to a pawn shop and bought him a used guitar. That gig he played so well it became a tradition. Every new gig he demanded a used guitar. The name will come to me. I do know there are a few horrid guitars out there though--the one at costco--the Yamaha, I can't keep it from buzzing though.