The findings not only reveal key design features, but also shed light on whether the development of the instruments was deliberate, or simply a product of human error.

The study focused on violins from premier Italian workshops of Amati, Stradivari and Guarneri, with the team analyzing measurements from hundreds of 17-18th century instruments. They made use of X-rays and CAT scans, as well as technical drawings acquired from museums, collectors and databases, comparing dimensions and measurements of acoustic resonances.

The study identified the shape and length of a violin's f-holes – the contoured openings through which air escapes – as a key feature affecting the power, or fullness of the produced sound. Specifically, it was found that most of the sound produced flows through the hole's perimeter rather than its interior, meaning that the more elongated the sound hole, the more powerful a sound the violin can produce.