Tonerite

[West R Lee]

I was just curious as to whether any of you have ever used a Tonerite? I was wondering what you that might have used one thought of it? Did it help? Were the results dramatic, or subtle? I've got one on the way and am wondering what to expect?



West

 

[AcornHouse]

I have one. Whether it actually does anything…

 

[West R Lee]

Thanks Chris. And that's pretty much what I expect. Having said that, there's a whole bunch of folks on another forum that swear by them. We'll see..........I just got a pretty good deal on one which should be here mid week. I take folks who say it made a ton of difference with a grain of salt, but can see where in theory, it should help a guitar to speed up the break in process, but heck, since I'll have one, I'll use it on everything.

West

 

[davismanLV]

West, do they work on humans? My midsection could use a little work, you know??

 

[West R Lee]

West, do they work on humans? My midsection could use a little work, you know??

I'll let you know Tom. I wasn't going to let the cat out of the bag just yet, but I noticed Curt losing all of that weight, so I've got to do something. I've got the special adapted to fit around my waste.

West

 

[wileypickett]

I've got one kicking around here somewhere. I tried it on a couple guitars shortly after I got it, oh, more than 10 years ago now. If it affected the sound at all, it was too subtle for me to discern.

 

[West R Lee]

I've got one kicking around here somewhere. I tried it on a couple guitars shortly after I got it, oh, more than 10 years ago now. If it affected the sound at all, it was too subtle for me to discern.

Did you ever try it on a new guitar Wiley? Here's the deal...........everybody and his brother claim it takes years to "break in" an Adirondack top. I'd been reading opinions on the Tonerite on another forum, and that bunch is pretty high on the Tonerite. I've watched reviews (mixed) as well. So with a new Adi topped guitar coming, and having found a deal on one, I thought why not?

Having said that, regardless of those rave reviews, I don't really expect much, but am sure open to trying it.

West

 

[wileypickett]

No, I haven't. In fact I don't think I've owned a NEW guitar since I was a teenager! (Well, not quite true, but pretty close.)

Let us know if it makes a difference on a new instrument. Maybe that's where its strength lies.

 

[beecee]

West, do they work on humans? My midsection could use a little work, you know??

Tom I have the human version in my avatar.

 

[chazmo]

West, can't hurt! Keep us posted.

 

[GGJaguar]

I've used on new flat top guitars. It helped open up the sound, but once that point was reached, there were no more improvements. It doesn't really do anything for older guitars that have been played in. I tried it on a Gretsch 17" acoustic archtop (solid, pressed top) with no noticeable improvement or change. So for me, it's a good way to quickly get a new guitar (especially if it has a red spruce top) somewhat "broken in".

 

[Brad Little]

I've got one somewhere, had it about 10 years. Didn't have a new guitar to try it on, but did have a "case queen" that had been stored almost since its inception. Didn't notice much difference. If I ever get another new guitar, I'll dig it out and give it another go.

 

[merlin6666]

I think the focus is on word "improvement" when it should be "changed" as the change can also make it worse. Still raises the question why anyone would buy and keep a guitar that needs improvement. I think the purpose of this is not for red spruce but for torrified tops where the cells and fibres were baked together and they need a lot of vibration to losen them up.

 

[Guildedagain]

Need more than observations.

There's enough inexpensive science out that someone who makes this kind of bank teaching guitar - it may be a cult - could actually see what he's talking about, because observations aren't enough.

Not saying it doesn't work.

And this bit of lore you never see floating around much:

"Make sure you strum the guitar at least once a week to break the tension and get everything vibrating. "

 

[West R Lee]

I think the focus is on word "improvement" when it should be "changed" as the change can also make it worse. Still raises the question why anyone would buy and keep a guitar that needs improvement. I think the purpose of this is not for red spruce but for torrified tops where the cells and fibres were baked together and they need a lot of vibration to losen them up.

I haven't looked at it like that. I'm sure nobody would buy a guitar they felt needed improvement. I see using a Tonerite as making a guitar be all it can be. : )

Allow me to explain. I own a Collings D2HA, which is the Adirondack topped version of a standard D2 (rosewood dread) with a Sitka top. That guitar is 3 years old. When I bought that guitar used, 2 years ago, it sounded incredible.......in fact, it sounds DV72 good, but much louder. And that with no benefit of a Tonerite. So in my opinion, within a year (that's how old is was when I bought it), that guitar's top required virtually no break in.

Now having said that, Collings is a little different in the way they do things. Virtually every guitar Collings builds is a "custom order". You get it the way you order it. When you place an order with Collings, you specify woods, including top material, sides and back. You also select brace material, finish, hardware, fret markers, string spacing and the option to actually omit certain bracing, etc. Given that set of circumstances, when you order a custom built guitar, obviously you don't get to play it first.....and it's yours. So that pretty much negates the possibility of playing the guitar before you buy it.......it's built specifically for you.

I've ordered a mahogany backed D1A (mahogany dread) with an Adi top, Adi bracing, built to my specs, so I really have no idea if this particular guitars top will require an extended period of break in or not. So faced with that situation, and with a guy offering me a new Tonerite for $100 (they typically run $150-$170), I thought it worth a shot.

The D1A will be shipped to me April 5. If I happen to see results with the D1A, I'll use the Tonerite on my other Collings guitars and on my DV72 just for grins. I'll even use it on my D2HA, which in my view shows no real room for improvement....it's that good, but I don't think the gizmo will hurt a thing.

And yes, I still love my DV72.

West

 

[geoguy]

I thought that gizmo helped to warm up the sound of an Adirondack-topped maple-bodied guitar. The instrument had spent several years hanging unsold in a music store, and had received very little playing time. At first, it sounded overly bright & a bit harsh (imo). I thought about selling it, but decided to first give the Tonerite a try.

Not a scientific observation, but I thought it sounded better after a couple weeks of getting buzzed by the Tonerite. YMMV.

 

[merlin6666]

I own to Guild Orpheums with red spruce tops, one of them for more than seven years, and I play them hard and have put many hours on them. I don't think I can hear any difference from when they were new. Though they are quite sensitive to humidity and other environmental things. So would not worry about that at kind of wood at all.

 

[Nuuska]

"Make sure you strum the guitar at least once a week to break the tension and get everything vibrating. "

Father of my friends girlfriend had an old violin hanging on the wall next to his stereo speaker. He seriously told us, that being exposed to music from that loudspeaker actually was keeping the violing in good shape. My friend and I were laughing - the daughter got mad at us for laughing at his father. Fortunately not as hard as Clint getting mad for folks laughing at his mule

Being curious in all possible ways - but at same time scientifically inclined - I'd like to find the truth about this. Among countless other things . . .

 

[West R Lee]

Father of my friends girlfriend had an old violin hanging on the wall next to his stereo speaker. He seriously told us, that being exposed to music from that loudspeaker actually was keeping the violing in good shape. My friend and I were laughing - the daughter got mad at us for laughing at his father. Fortunately not as hard as Clint getting mad for folks laughing at his mule

Being curious in all possible ways - but at same time scientifically inclined - I'd like to find the truth about this. Among countless other things . . .

Yes sir, I've heard about standing your guitar next to stereo speakers for many years. Same principle.

West

 

[Coop47]

I've been using a friend's for a few years now - kind of a permanent loan situation. I have no hard evidence to back it up, but my impression is sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. This week I used it on a newly purchased used Martin Grand J35 that seemed a little dead to me - livened it up considerably over four days and night of use with a couple hours play each day. Same with a new F-55 a couple years ago. It made little to no difference on maple back and sided and cedar topped guitars, and hit or miss with some mahogany b/s. I don't use it on every guitar, but I'll give it a shot on guitars that lack some sparkle, responsiveness or depth and about half the time it seems to make an improvement to my ears. That said, guitars can sound different to me night to night, so there could certainly be other factors at play.

I don't feel strongly enough about it to recommend buying one, but certainly try it if a friend gives you one!