Fascinating thread Mara, and posts, Rc - Frogman - Sugar and others. In the case of the Stradivaris, isn't it amazing what a half-literate technician could achieve vs. what our present, hi-tech, sophistication cannot? A great master indeed!
More on subject, I can discern sonic differences on winds -- easily, as a matter of fact. But I have rarely paid but lip service to the instrument played -- more to the musician's playing, as Ewha. One exception is piano, so perhaps my ear is now more sensitive differences in that instrument.
BTW the Tacet cd mentioned by Stud above seems interesting.
