Either Paul Has Changed His Mind....

[tabl10s]

or the Mice are playing behind his back. What am I talking about? Break-in. I asked Paul if he believed in it and he replied "no". In this video:....

http://prsguitars.com/forum/showthread.php?13427-Humidification-with-Mike-Byle


the two Tonares on the wall are being broken-in with Tone-Rites that vibrate at 60hz to speed up the aging process. I can attest to the fact that they do work.

 

[aristotle]

I'm skeptical that they "work" and all of the blind tests on the subject that I'm aware of don't show any difference, either measurable or subjective.

On the other hand, I can't see that it could possibly hurt either. As with most things tone related, even if it doesn't work..the sorts of builders who pay attention to this kind of thing, also pay attention to tons of other details, and who am I to argue when the sum of the parts end up as such great instruments....even if some of those parts seem not to make sense to me.

 

[crgtr]

I have had varying results from my Tone-Rite. Some guitars really open up after a few weeks on it. Some don't really show much improvement. I bought one a LONG time ago & I have never turned it off. I have more guitars than I can keep in rotation so they get the "good vibrations" when not in use. I usually start with it wide open, then turn it down a bit after a few weeks.

 

[László]

I wonder about this stuff. If it works, no one really knows why it works.

I have a hard time believing that having the guitar vibrate does anything more than making the wood a tiny fraction warmer on the molecular level (as we know, molecular movement produces heat). Maybe that helps the paint or glue dry way under the surface, at the smallest level. And maybe that's why Chris says it works on some guitars and not others.

Maybe some guitars just sound better warmed up!

 

[DHW]

There is a long history of instruments opening up over time especially in the orchestra instruments. A well made acoustic is much the same. An overbuilt one not so much. If someone took a brand new, well built acoustic and recorded playing it in high definition and then did that once a year for 10 years, playing the same stuff, and then listening to those recordings I think you would be shocked at the difference over the years... the problem would be keeping an hd recording device working for 10 years lol.

 

[crgtr]

I have had good results with the Tone-Rite on my electric gtrs too!
By the way, my friends over at Gibson Restoration regularly use them on both acoustic & electric guitars in their shop.

 

[László]

I believe that new guitars do break in. Paul Smith has said it's a matter of the paint drying. I can't really say; I certainly noticed a change in my Tonare Grand after a few months, though it wasn't huge.

Of course, everything is purely anecdotal; there's no real scientific explanation beyond speculation. Maybe that's as it should be - I'm a speculator myself.

I've heard recordings of before and after using this thing (Guitar World had some in its review), but the truth is that a very small change of position relative to a mic or even a change in humidity in the studio can cause similar differences in a recording's outcome. All you have to do to prove this is to try and exactly replicate your tone with an acoustic guitar when overdubbing a day or two after the initial session!

One thing that troubles me is that for the thing to work, it has to sit on top of the strings, which means either leaving the case open (not recommended due to potential damage if the case accidentally closes) or using it on a stand of some kind. For someone whose location produces very significant temperature and humidity changes throughout the day due to forced air heat or the widely varying RH levels we experience from day to day in Michigan summers, I prefer to keep my guitars cased with a Planet Waves humidification system in the case and in the body of the guitar.

So for me, the only solution is "Just play the damn thing!"

 

[shinksma]

One of my bandmates recently traded a viola to another part-time/interloper bandmate - about 3 months ago, IIRC. It was originally built in 1835 or something, but has undoubtedly had work done on it in between.

Anyway, the first bandmate wasn't using it - she plays fiddle (violin) but not viola, it was her late-husband's instrument, so it was unused (sitting in a case, I believe) for probably over five years, maybe more.

Over the last month, the viola has really sweetened and filled out in tone. I don't know whether it is from human sweat/oil interacting with the wood/strings, or the strings being used after being dormant for years (I honestly don't know if it was restrung as a result of the trade), but everyone agrees it was "sleeping" and it is now "waking up", and every time we play with the new owner, it sounds better. Maybe it is just a case of the new owner getting used to the instrument, and finding the tones that were always there. :dontknow:

Apparently this is common with quality-built traditional wood-based acoustic instruments - violins, violas, cellos, etc. I don't know whether it applies to "instruments of considerable age" or would apply to a new-built high-end instrument. I strongly doubt it would apply to an entry-level factory-built violin bought for a few hundred bucks.

I also have no idea whether the same concept applies to modern-built quality acoustic guitars like PRS PS/Core Tonare or Angelus guitars or even the more cost-effective "productionized" SE Angelus line.

yay! More anecdotal evidence that may have no connection to reality!