Measuring Stradivari violin “Cremonese” (1715) by 3D Modeling

Acquiring precise measurements of historical violins is an important task both for researchers and violin makers. Up to now, the measures are taken manually using a caliber, with limitations in the repeatability, since the access to these instruments is restricted and the contact with the caliber has to be limited to the bare essential for avoiding accidental damages to superficial varnishes. In this work we propose a new protocol for the acquisition and creation of high quality 3D models of violins suitable for taking precise measurements. The procedure was applied to Stradivari "Cremonese" (1715) kept in "Museo del Violino" in Cremona. The quality of the result was validated comparing the measures taken on the 3D mesh to those ones taken by the curator of the museum on the original instrument. As a test case the data are then used to confirm the use of the "G" mould for the construction of this violin.