A stator for a turbo-machine having a plurality of airfoils extending radially therefrom, said stator has a plurality of segments that abut each other to form a ring, each segment comprising: an aft end and a forward end; a base between said aft end and said forward end from which said airfoils extend inward, said base includes an aft end and a forward end relative to an axis of rotation of said turbo-machine; and circumferentially spaced slits disposed in said base and said aft end of the segment, each slit disposed adjacent and between a pair of adjacent airfoils, characterized in that: said slits extend through the segment radially and axially from said aft end of the segment towards said forward end of said base, such that a forward end of each slit is aligned with a forward end of said airfoils relative to said axis, wherein a first width (W 1) between a first set of adjacent slits and a second width (W 2) between a second set of adjacent slits varies to create discordant resonant frequencies that mistune the first width (W 1) relative to the second width (W 2), wherein each width (W1, W2) represents a tuning fork with attendant vibratory modes and includes a portion of said base and an airfoil having a resonant frequency during use, and wherein said resonant frequencies vary to prolong life of said stator. an aft end and a forward end; a base between said aft end and said forward end from which said airfoils extend inward, said base includes an aft end and a forward end relative to an axis of rotation of said turbo-machine; and circumferentially spaced slits disposed in said base and said aft end of the segment, each slit disposed adjacent and between a pair of adjacent airfoils, characterized in that: said slits extend through the segment radially and axially from said aft end of the segment towards said forward end of said base, such that a forward end of each slit is aligned with a forward end of said airfoils relative to said axis, wherein a first width (W 1) between a first set of adjacent slits and a second width (W 2) between a second set of adjacent slits varies to create discordant resonant frequencies that mistune the first width (W 1) relative to the second width (W 2), wherein each width (W1, W2) represents a tuning fork with attendant vibratory modes and includes a portion of said base and an airfoil having a resonant frequency during use, and wherein said resonant frequencies vary to prolong life of said stator. said slits extend through the segment radially and axially from said aft end of the segment towards said forward end of said base, such that a forward end of each slit is aligned with a forward end of said airfoils relative to said axis, wherein a first width (W 1) between a first set of adjacent slits and a second width (W 2) between a second set of adjacent slits varies to create discordant resonant frequencies that mistune the first width (W 1) relative to the second width (W 2), wherein each width (W1, W2) represents a tuning fork with attendant vibratory modes and includes a portion of said base and an airfoil having a resonant frequency during use, and wherein said resonant frequencies vary to prolong life of said stator.