Comments on: Letting Fungi Munch on Violin Wood Makes for a Better Sound

By: Strato

Strato — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:09:45 +0000

We have made almost 200 guitars in the last 5 years. One of the timbers we use has a decorative pattern caused by a fungal attack while the tree is still alive. Initially this timber was used for the look but now we have discovered that those instruments generally sound better.

By: Jaehooon

Jaehooon — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 10:06:57 +0000

Wow…so centuries after Stradivarius, we are FINALLY able to create something of similar quality. It’s amazing that the solution is fungus, instead of something a bit more…sophisticated, to say.

By: David_42

David_42 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:20:24 +0000

Someone doesn’t seem to understand basic genetics, either

By: scott

scott — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 20:57:33 +0000

Plenty of fungi pose no harm to humans. Physisporinus and Xylaria are not pathogenic fungi.

By: Veronique Greenwood

Veronique Greenwood — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:28:08 +0000

@Kathleen, they treat the wood to kill the fungus before it’s ever made into anything. So no worries about spores and such.

By: Kathleen O'Lane

Kathleen O'Lane — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:35:17 +0000

With all due respect:
You have got to be kidding! Bring that fungally treated instrument into your environment, and poof! You have unhealthy fungal exposure. In other words, a contaminated object. All fungi have the potential to be harmful to humans, or to mutate to become harmful, and/or to merge with other fungi in the ambient environment to produce mutated and potentially harmful strains,…. and, unless you know something that I do not,…. once fungi gets into wood, you cannot get it out, so what in the name of Heaven are you thinking?!
The idea of something so special and held so close to the face emitting spores and/or mycotoxins upon the face and respiratory system of a musician does not bode well for me at all.