Radiologist uses CT scans to replicate antique violin

BBC : A radiologist at the University of Minnesota is using computed tomography (CT) to replicate antique musical instruments. Steven Sirr first got the idea to take a CT scan of a violin in 1988. Such scans, he discovered, can reveal characteristics of the wood, worm holes and cracks, and previous repairs, all of which help create an instrument’s unique sound. Teaming up with a couple of violin makers, Sirr used more than 1000 CT images to reproduce a 1704 Stradivarius violin borrowed from the US Library of Congress. Over the years, the team has scanned hundreds of instruments, including guitars, mandolins, and other violins. “The copies are amazingly similar to originals in their sound quality,” said Sirr, who hopes that the process will allow more music students to have access to high-quality instruments on a par with rare vintage pieces. The team’s findings were presented at a Radiological Society of North America conference .