Hey, coop, we (I) need to see pictures of that Grand J-35. Does it have a 3-piece rosewood back like the other 35 series? I've never seen (or heard of) one of these.
Tonerite
- Thread starter West R Lee
- Start date
Here you go, chaz. (Sorry for the thread veer, West R. Lee!)
From what I could find online, they made 111 of these from 2009 to 2012. I have a custom Jumbo that I love, but always wondered what a Grand Jumbo would sound like. (The answer is "fantastic".) Prior to the Tonerite, I would've favored the F55 as being more rich and open. After the Tonerite, I think the GJ35 was just as rich but with more balance. The F55 has some more thud in the bass, whereas the GJ is more piano-like.
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Very interesting observation Coop. Veer? What's a "veer"? You may find this hard to believe, but I've actually veered a thread or two here myself. Good looking Martin jumbo you've got there. Great to hear the Tonerite helped you. Great input.
West
West
Beautiful, coop! Lovely model, and definitely worth comparing to the F-55. I just noticed there's one of these on Reverb and that it also has the D-TAR multi-source. I'm rather shocked at the (low) price (FYI: https://reverb.com/item/4336498-martin-grand-j-35e-2009-natural-rare).
Great veer!
Great veer!
GGJaguar
Reverential Member
I had a Grand J35E. I bought it because my Grand J40-12 sounded great so I thought the 6-string version would be it's equal.
It was not. It had a sweet sound and, to me, was just an oversize OM-28. It did not have the projection of my dreads nor of the Guild jumbos (I even Tonerited it). Maybe it was a dud or maybe that's they way it was meant to be, but I sold it after a couple of years of ownership.
It was not.
It had a sweet sound and, to me, was just an oversize OM-28. It did not have the projection of my dreads nor of the Guild jumbos (I even Tonerited it). Maybe it was a dud or maybe that's they way it was meant to be, but I sold it after a couple of years of ownership.Thanks West - I'll think you'll like yours, but I also think I have a few guitars that sound better after they've been played for 10 minutes when maybe it's really just my ears acclimating to them. I think it really does make a difference for new guitars, especially dreads and Jumbos. For the GJ, it took a few days to make a difference but it was noticeable. I put the GJ away for a few days to rotate through a few other guitars; I'm curious to see what it sounds like to me the next time I grab it.
Thanks - I think that one is long gone. I'd be curious to know when it sold. It wasn't too too long ago that I would've called that a high price for a used Martin. My understanding is that the D-Tar was standard - the model is really a Grand J35E, and I think all of them were.Beautiful, coop! Lovely model, and definitely worth comparing to the F-55. I just noticed there's one of these on Reverb and that it also has the D-TAR multi-source. I'm rather shocked at the (low) price (FYI: https://reverb.com/item/4336498-martin-grand-j-35e-2009-natural-rare).
Great veer!
GG, your review gave me pause, but it was the only lackluster thing I'd read about the model. I agree it doesn't project like a Guild Jumbo or even a D35. The comparison to an OM-28 rings true to me - it takes that balanced sound profile and expands it, whereas my F55 is more scooped. I don't think it's my best sounding guitar (though that changes month to month), but it's up there and a lot of fun to play.I had a Grand J35E. I bought it because my Grand J40-12 sounded great so I thought the 6-string version would be it's equal.
It was not.
I'd love to try a GJ-40 sometime but those are equally rare - stunning guitar. Ironically, I did try buying a regular J-40-12 because I loved my custom J, but didn't think it measured up to the custom or my F512.
Back OT - I've gotten the best results when I've been able to hang the guitar by the headstock with nothing else touching it (like on a Hercules stand with the bottom support bar folded in). Then be sure that the electric cord connecting to the Tonerite isn't rubbing against the guitar top. Haven't really noticed that different speeds have different results, so I've just left it running at close to the highest especially for big body guitars. And don't be afraid to stop and pull the guitar off to play it and then put it back - for some reason I thought continuous use might yield better results.
When there were results, I found they came after a couple days. Day 1 might be no difference, Day 2 might be a little difference and then Day 3 or 4 would be noticeable. On the other hand, I used it on a JF30 for a week and it made no difference whatsoever.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
I actually have one since many years and made the same observations like GGJ. It makes most sense on new guitars or on guitars that have not been played for ages.
I bought a GSR F-20 that was hanging as NOS in a store for a few years and boy was she stiff.
But after the usual 96 hour treatment that I use (48h high, 24h medium, 24h low) that F-20 opened up a lot and was a full sounding guitar afterwards. I also used it on some new solid bodies and had the feeling the acoustic properties were much better afterwards.
I never used a TonerRite twice on a guitar yet.
Just a little word of warning. Be careful when using it, if it comes too close to the bridge the side preasure agaist the strings can lead to an effect that the vibrating strings "sand themselves" into the bone or plastic saddle and form little groves (microgroves but still there)! And since the rubber fingers also spread out the strings on the saddle those little groves would be not at the normal string position over the saddle. Depends on the saddle material as well, probably not a concern, I'm just careful. So I always create a kind of hanger with a piece of wire or twine (string) from the top of the guitar stand, so when the guitar is in the guitar stand the ToneRite will not shift down towards the bridge too much. I try keeping it roughly where the sound hole is, you have to experiment a bit for a good stable position. Due to the vibration it always moves down towards the bridge. You also have to control it at least daily if you do the 96 hour total treatment if the 3 fingers didn't slip out of the strings. And obviously you have to change the speed every day or 2 days.
Ralf
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West R Lee
Venerated Member
Sweet pair, GG!I had a Grand J35E. I bought it because my Grand J40-12 sounded great so I thought the 6-string version would be it's equal.
It was not.
Agreed @SFIV1967 - that's one of the most helpful posts I've read about the Tonerite.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
Another weird finding for me was that on first look I wasn't sure how strong the Tonerite is. So when the guitar is hanging freely in a guitar stand (I use a Hercules one) it didn't feel like there is much going one (well the Tonerite makes noise).
But to see how it "rattles" the guitar do the following "weird" thing: Come close with your mouth to the top of the headstock and touch the headstock with your front teeth only...But be careful, it goes right into your scull! The Tonerite really stronly vibrates the neck as well. Unbelieveble. You can't feel that with your fingers in such way as with your front teeth! Sounds weird, I know...
Ralf
But to see how it "rattles" the guitar do the following "weird" thing: Come close with your mouth to the top of the headstock and touch the headstock with your front teeth only...But be careful, it goes right into your scull! The Tonerite really stronly vibrates the neck as well. Unbelieveble. You can't feel that with your fingers in such way as with your front teeth! Sounds weird, I know...
Ralf
Okay, that one is less helpful than the prior one but still interesting.Another weird finding for me was that on first look I wasn't sure how strong the Tonerite is. So when the guitar is hanging freely in a guitar stand (I use a Hercules one) it didn't feel like there is much going one (well the Tonerite makes noise).
But to see how it "rattles" the guitar do the following "weird" thing: Come close with your mouth to the top of the headstock and touch the headstock with your front teeth only...But be careful, it goes right into your scull! The Tonerite really stronly vibrates the neck as well. Unbelieveble. You can't feel that with your fingers in such way as with your front teeth! Sounds weird, I know...
Ralf
What possessed you to try that?(That's not to say that I won't try it, but at least I have the excuse of reading about it on the internet.)
wileypickett
Enlightened Member
But to see how it "rattles" the guitar do the following "weird" thing: Come close with your mouth to the top of the headstock and touch the headstock with your front teeth only...But be careful, it goes right into your scull! The Tonerite really stronly vibrates the neck as well. Unbelieveble. You can't feel that with your fingers in such way as with your front teeth! Sounds weird, I know...
Ralf
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Wow! I'll have to check that out. Mine is supposed to arrive tomorrow. Thanks Ralf. I'm biting my tongue here trying really hard not to ask about using the Tonerite for other things.Another weird finding for me was that on first look I wasn't sure how strong the Tonerite is. So when the guitar is hanging freely in a guitar stand (I use a Hercules one) it didn't feel like there is much going one (well the Tonerite makes noise).
But to see how it "rattles" the guitar do the following "weird" thing: Come close with your mouth to the top of the headstock and touch the headstock with your front teeth only...But be careful, it goes right into your scull! The Tonerite really stronly vibrates the neck as well. Unbelieveble. You can't feel that with your fingers in such way as with your front teeth! Sounds weird, I know...
Ralf
West
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
That was by accident I believe...
but it's the same effect like an electrical tooth brush, since your teeth are the only "open and direct connection" to your bones, you feel it much stronger and direct. Your fingers or fingernails have too much soft tissue around which dampens the vibration you feel.O.k., enough about that weird topic!
Ralf
GGJaguar
Reverential Member
I think there's a warning in the instructions about that.
West R Lee
Venerated Member
Welp, it's so dry here right now.....29% humidity.......that I'm afraid to pull a Collings or the DV72 out of their humidified cases to run the Tonerite on them. My old D25 has a small crack or two in it already, so though on a guitar 43 years old, I doubt it'll be much help, I'm doing a test run. And yes, I see, feel and hear the enormous vibration they put on the entire guitar. Fascinating.
West
West
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