Plausible: Sounds & Shoes & Skirts (Stradivarius)

Two looks at a new study about the famously superior sound of Stradivarius violins:

Jennifer Ouellette (Cocktail Party Physics): “Anatomy of a Stradivarius.” [BONUS (Jan 3): Musician buys old violin at flea market worth thousands.]

Ed Yong (Not Exactly Rocket Science): “Violinists can’t tell the difference between Stradivarius violins and new ones.” [BONUS: Comments by one of the study authors.]

But… these days, most of the Stradivariuses being produced are shoes [including the one pictured here], skirts, dresses, jackets, or coats.

BONUS: NPR has devised a double-blind test you can take.