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What tech could let you play a famous Stradivarius violin?

Answer: 3-D printing

The Stradivarius Sunrise is a master violin crafted in 1677 by the famous Stradivari family in Italy, and the same techniques that were used to make that rare and sought-after instrument have been used until today. But music technology teacher Harris Matzaridis has blended that traditional craftsmanship with modern technology: 3-D printing.

Matzaridis’ project ViolinoDigitale has created “a digital physical violin.” It took two years to re-create the Stradivarius Sunrise with a combination of more than 40 printed parts as well as more traditional handcrafting, such as the violin’s decorative carving. Much of the printing was done with wood filament. The result is a violin that looks, feels and sounds remarkably like the original.

“With 3-D-printed violin replicas, anyone can have a small ‘taste’ of an old master instrument, without wearing out the original,” Matzaridis told Digital Trends. “3-D-printed violins can incorporate a fresh approach not only in instrument making, but also in acoustic research studies.”