There are several ways in which conventional wisdom and expert opinion is very sensible advice but my reading of Freakonomics has led me to agree that what is the consensus and unquestioned wisdom is frequently plainly wrong and based on no evidence. Ian Sample of the Guardian writes about the results of a modest experiment with persuasive results that tested the claim that antique musical instruments (specifically violins) have a superior sound to more modern versions. Granted that there are limitations to the experiment principally related to the blindfolding of the players together with the small sample of the instruments, I am persuaded that its results are valid.
What the results show is that the instruments that are highly valued as having been created by a master such as Antonio Stradivari do not produce superior sound that it detectable to expert players. As the story states, these unique instruments are very highly valued by collectors and performers and are the prices are often justified on account of their superior quality of sound. What the results imply is that the less valuable instruments are probably not inferior in this respect. To my mind, the value of the Stradivarius instrument is most probably based on their rarity and scarcity. In addition, most of the owners of these antique instruments are very capable musicians whose skill may give the impression that that quality of performance is produced by the rare instrument. Instead, its just that the skill is the real magic.
These findings trace the continuing realization that most claims such as the superior taste of expensive wines, performance of maestros and now the sound quality of antique musical instruments, sometimes fails when subjected to randomized testing.
What the results show is that the instruments that are highly valued as having been created by a master such as Antonio Stradivari do not produce superior sound that it detectable to expert players. As the story states, these unique instruments are very highly valued by collectors and performers and are the prices are often justified on account of their superior quality of sound. What the results imply is that the less valuable instruments are probably not inferior in this respect. To my mind, the value of the Stradivarius instrument is most probably based on their rarity and scarcity. In addition, most of the owners of these antique instruments are very capable musicians whose skill may give the impression that that quality of performance is produced by the rare instrument. Instead, its just that the skill is the real magic.
These findings trace the continuing realization that most claims such as the superior taste of expensive wines, performance of maestros and now the sound quality of antique musical instruments, sometimes fails when subjected to randomized testing.
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