Bent wood in the soundboards of instruments from the Baroque to the contemporary – a scientific perspective on the intelligent use of materials in violin making.

Bending wood to create the soundboard or back of stringed instruments dates back to the 16th century and allows for intelligent use of material, reducing waste. Although not widely used, this fascinating technique offers interesting advantages for modern luthiers. Martino Quintavalla, a materials engineer and luthier, will illustrate his scientific research in this field, highlighting the differences between hollow and bent soundboards in terms of sound and structural stability of instruments.