In 2008, along with noted researcher Berend Stoel, I was able to scan several historic and modern instruments in a Siemens CT Scanner. While normally used in a medical setting, it also lends itself well to studying the density of wood.
Our findings led to "A Comparison of Wood Density between Classic Cremonese and Modern Violins",
in the scientific journal PLoS One. We were also able to create this movie from the scan of a 1735 Guarneri del Gesu.

We have continued this research with a publication in Strad Magazine, January 2011 of
CT and Modal Analysis of the Vieuxtemps Guarneri del Gesu
This article discusses measurements of the vibration modes and geometry of the
1741 ‘Vieuxtemps’ Guarneri 'del Gesù’ violin made using computed tomography (CT)
and modal analysis technology (see boxes below). During our research we also studied
the ‘Jarnowich’ Guarneri ‘del Gesù’ of 1741 and the 1707 'Cathedrale" Stradivari

Come along with us for a 2 minute trip inside an historic 1735 violin.

The movie begins at the lower button and travels through the body,
past the soundpost and ends at the neck. Extremely bright objects
are metal such as chinrest hardware, strings, etc.

 
Press PLAY arrow to begin movie
Please allow time to load, file is 2 mb