Members missedmyexit Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Anyone see this thing? The ToneRite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Yeah, the last time, I've seen it, it was called a "membrane air pump" in the fishtank department of my MaxiZoo just around the corner.Was a bit cheaper, tho - about 10 quid.Oh and you had to cut and glue your own rubber parts, which were about 2 quid.Dunno, why they charge 150 bucks for it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 It has been greatly discussed at the tech section of UMGF and AGF (which I hardly visit). Opinions vary. It is a modern version of the shaker table and/or putting your guitar in front of a subwoofer and playing loud music at is school of thought. Which segways directly into the old discussion about how (or do) guitars "open up" and what does that all mean. I believe that as far as "proof" is concerned, there were some before and after postings, but frankly I've been too busy playing my guitars to pay any attention. http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/102127/t/A-good-Tonerite-Method.html http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/102810/t/Tonerite-report.html http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.yuku.com/topic/101596/t/Is-this-ToneRite-thing-for-real-or-have-I-missed-the-news.html many others.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarist21 Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 I would never buy it- $150 is a lot of money to pay for a machine to play my guitar for me, when I rather enjoy playing it myself- but it is interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Looks like an EBow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Queequeg Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Collings Forum ToneRite Survey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuitarVlog Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 I actually talked in-person to one of the high-profile endorsees of the ToneRite. His more nuanced assessment was that it worked well for some instruments and did nothing for others. If the guitar already has the potential for better tone, then the Tonerite will do the job of "playing-in" the guitar. That's about it. It does NOT accelerate the wood aging process which actually changes the structure of the wood. This is the process of the guitar "opening-up". Yamaha seems to have been able to develop a process for this but it is reserved only for their highest-end instruments that come from its Hamamatsu facility. This device may be useful for guitar collectors who have a lot of instruments and little time to play all of them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 It seems like something your local setup man could offer: "Hey, would you like me to add a ToneRite to your setup for $20?" Not selling the unit, but just using it during the setup process? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rjoxyz Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 I was curious, but not $150 worth of curious. So, I jury rigged an aquarium pump to the strings, using a mini-bungee cord. Butted it up to the saddle. I should have posted pics when I was experimenting, but never took any. I'm sure the pump could be affixed in a number of other ways, as well. I went into detail in another thread, about the process and effects on 3-4 of my guitars. It unquestionably altered the tone of all of them to varying degrees, including a couple hanging on the same triple stand, apparently through sympathetic vibration through the stand. When the pump was plugged in, all three guitars were "humming". I was going to wire in a rheostat to control intensity, but decided to go ahead without it. The commercial version is certainly more user friendly and adjustable, but I obtained positive results for about $12. The concept is definitely not snake oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 It unquestionably altered the tone of all of them to varying degrees... How did you determine that the tone was altered? I'm a skeptic. I don't trust my memory of tone, especially over a few days. HOWEVER.... Somebody just lent me one of these devices. So, I plan to take a tap tone before and after, and I'll look at the spectrum analysis of each open string before and after. I suppose I could record a short tune before and after as well. Anything else I should do as part of my tonerite experiment? Or does somebody already have some hard data? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuitarVlog Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 It seems like something your local setup man could offer: "Hey, would you like me to add a ToneRite to your setup for $20?" Not selling the unit, but just using it during the setup process? What are the odds that the setup guy does absolutely nothing and yet the owner says "Wow! It sounds so much better! That Tonerite thing works!" Actually, that might be the best way to do a blind test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rjoxyz Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 How did you determine that the tone was altered? I'm a skeptic. I don't trust my memory of tone, especially over a few days. HOWEVER.... Somebody just lent me one of these devices. So, I plan to take a tap tone before and after, and I'll look at the spectrum analysis of each open string before and after. I suppose I could record a short tune before and after as well. Anything else I should do as part of my tonerite experiment? Or does somebody already have some hard data? All subjective, as tone is by nature. The changes were subtle for the most part and a couple perhaps debatable as "placebo effect". I am not scientifically inclined, so did not treat this as a lab experiment. I have a fair amount of confidence in my aural memory (at least as to these guitars) as well as my impression of the before and after sound. Some of this is attributable to the aging of the strings as well, I suppose. Even after replacing strings and allowing them time to wear in, there was a noticeable difference in tone on all treated guitars. More resonance. I think you need to leave the unit running on the guitar for at least 6-7 days for any significant impact. 3 days steady, made any tone alteration difficult to perceive at all. I did record a couple of them before the treatment, but of course forgot to do so afterward (changed strings too, which would have invalidated any comparison). Just relating my experience. Not trying to prove a hypothesis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Yeah, I'm not questioning your perception -- just my own. OK, I just started that annoying 60Hz hum a few minutes ago -- set on max. I have recorded open strings plucked at both the sound hole and the 12th fret, took a tap tone, and recorded a short tune. I'll record again after 3 days, and then again after 6 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuitarVlog Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 I did record a couple of them before the treatment, but of course forgot to do so afterward (changed strings too, which would have invalidated any comparison). When you consider that strings also get played-in, one can't help but wonder how much of any real change in tone is the guitar or the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Just found this similar test over at AGF:http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163754 Also, the 60Hz hum from this thing is both strong and annoying. I may have to move the experiment into the garage. Not sure how people tolerate the noise. My entire office is now vibrating at 60Hz.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rjoxyz Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Just found this similar test over at AGF:http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=163754Also, the 60Hz hum from this thing is both strong and annoying. I may have to move the experiment into the garage. Not sure how people tolerate the noise. My entire office is now vibrating at 60Hz.... Yeah, you definitely don't want to spend a week in the same room with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pinchegordo Posted July 2, 2010 Members Share Posted July 2, 2010 Collings Forum ToneRite Survey sorry man but this whole survey is just ,corksniffers do have great imaginations though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted July 5, 2010 Members Share Posted July 5, 2010 Day 3 on the tonerite is complete. I moved the experiment to the garage on day 1 because I have an intense dislike for the 60Hz hum. When I took the guitar out of the garage, it had gone about 20 cents sharp, so I assume humidity is higher in the garage. The tap tone was also a bit higher, which is not what I'd expect. So I'm going to let it acclimate for a few hours before I sample the sound again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted July 5, 2010 Members Share Posted July 5, 2010 I know you've all been on the edge of your seats.... The results are in! Test Guitar: Silver Creek T160 (unmodified, medium strings) Tap Tone Before ToneRite: 216-224HZ Tap Tone After ToneRite: 226Hz (high humidity?) Tap Tone After ToneRite and After Acclimation: 218Hz Spectrum Analysis of G3-12th fret before ToneRite: After ToneRite: Open strings played at the sound hole and 12th fret before ToneRite: http://www.box.net/shared/0oc2b6coeu After ToneRite: http://www.box.net/shared/6hmp206axy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted July 6, 2010 Members Share Posted July 6, 2010 Please interpret the results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted July 6, 2010 Members Share Posted July 6, 2010 Please interpret the results. I was hoping to just provide some data without commentary, but I would say that 3 days of tonerite had less effect than just the change in humidity between the house and the garage. Basically zip, nada, nothing I could really detect. My guess is that people hear what they want to hear. I can personally attest to not playing a guitar for several days, and then picking it up again, and saying "Wow! Better than I remember." Best case: this thing does something to some guitars after some duration, just not my guitar after three days. Worst case: somebody is marketing a fish tank pump to guitar players for $150 and laughing at us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuitarVlog Posted July 6, 2010 Members Share Posted July 6, 2010 NEWS! Chinese manufacturer of fishtank pumps finally able to buy house and car thanks to crazy American buyer who purchases all his wares every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted July 6, 2010 Members Share Posted July 6, 2010 Yeah.Thanks gitn00b, that was, what I expected to see.I can spare to swap the fishtank pump from the aquarium to the git and my fish won't have to suffocate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brindleleaf Posted July 6, 2010 Members Share Posted July 6, 2010 Well.....philosophically speaking I'd have to say that if your guitar sounds better, more open and responsive to the player after having this treatment (even if it's only the placebo effect)....then GREAT! Pretty much anything that enhances the satisfaction of playing is fine by me (wouldn't pay 150$ for it though...). Next time I have a fight with my GF, I'll pop out to grab my guitar ("Hold that thought dear!") and set it up between us and let the sound wash over it (hopefully establishing some kind of 'sympathy moan' in the guitar...probably really good for playing blues afterwards!)......bet that'll go down REALLY well with my GF too..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members katopp Posted July 6, 2010 Members Share Posted July 6, 2010 Well, it does not have to stop at $150.Take a look at this one herehttp://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3429.aspand behold.But then, it's purely high-end, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.