With regard to that Stradivarius story, and just to persuade Steve that I can get back to the serious subject, I actually did know a guy in the Scottish borders who died just a couple of years ago, and who was believed to have the secret of what Stradivarius did.

His violins (he preferred to call them 'fiddles', to the disgust of the music snobs!) had an instant richness of tone, which he said disproved the idea that violins improve in tone with age... he said he could achieve it instantly, and he believed that Strad. had done the same thing. He also said that all ideas of it having anything to do with the varnish were nonsense, and gave unvarnished instruments to be played in concert to prove it.

A few famous musicians played his instruments - I think Kyung Wha-Chung was one who was very impressed - but the old guy died a couple of years back, leaving the secret to only one apprentice, a Scots playwright whose name escapes me.

And so - sorry, I can't tell you!!!

- Ian B