It takes the greatest cunning and a life of practical study to
know how long, how thick, and exactly where the soundbar should
be in each instrument. The health and morale of many an old
violin has been impaired by its nervous system being ignorantly
tampered with. Every old violin, with the exception of the
“Pucelle,” has had its soundbar replaced, or it would never
have endured the increased tightness of strings brought in with
our modern pitch. Many good forgeries have thus been exposed,
for in taking the reputed Stradivarius to pieces, the rough,
clumsy work inside, contrasting with the exquisite finish of
the old masters, betrays at once the coarseness of a body that
never really held the soul of a Cremona. (Text.)--H. R.
HAWEIS, “My Musical Memories.”
(1054)