MINe 109 wrote:

Ah, Nagyvary. Isn't he the A&M prof who researched those ancient violins
in order to recreate their construction methods?

The "improvement" in this ccontext would be to turn away from "modern
technology"!

He did. See, Violins are pretty well understood and easy to make
in a proper shop. What's not easy is the curing and shellac/coatings
on the finish - it's what gives the violin the unique sound it has.
Age also helps, some. New wood isn't as good as old.

The problem is that the great master Stratavarius never passed
on his secret formula for his coating/finish. So, Nagyvary
spent years researching and re-creating a simmilar solution
using materials that he could obtain today.