"Secrets off Violin Making" should/could include the modification of tonewood properties. One such modification might be "selective lignification" of spruce. Francis Schwartz of the Swiss Federal Labs has postulated that one or more species of fungus might improve the tonewood properties!
He has postulated that "Physisporinus Vitreus" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physisporinus and "Xylaria" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylaria are good candidates for such a process.
See wikipedia.org/wiki/Physisporinus
See wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylaria_longpipes
He describes a selective lignification and a preferential degradation of bordered pit membranes both achievable without significant loss of wood strength!
We have all observed the rapid deteriorization of wood structures in harsh climates.
Usual fungal attack typically appears to be non uniform, attacking weak areas of exposed wood. For a tonewood modification process to be good, the treatment must be uniform. Uniform means uniform over an area of 18" by 10" for violins up to an area of 30" by 14" for cello construction.
For a productive process development effort:
1. The tonewood surface preparation must be characterized
2. An appropriate pre-treatment might be introduced to enhance uniformity
3. An optimum fungal agent (s) must be determined.
4. Treatment conditions must be optimized
5. A uniformity measurement must be identified
6. A post-treatment must be effective in stopping the modification when complete
These activities are in progress at several locations. Instruments will be constructed and "blind" acoustical comparisons will be done. Stay tuned here for interesting outcomes!
Is there a future for these two together ......
See also mussbakersbiologyclass.com/blog/2010/02/19/fungi_a_new_revolution_in_violin_making/
