Trying out a Tonerite on my Gitane

Couriosity got the better of me and I'm trying out the Tonerite to try and improve the sound of my DG-300. Anyone try this device? What were the results?

No, I haven't tried one. From discussions on other forums, the Tonerite can be very divisive, though!

I believe in it for the most part; people believe that playing a new guitar a lot has an effect so why can't a Tonerite have at least some of that effect? There are other ideas and processes out there that also try to simulate aging a guitar.

Good luck!

Greg

any results yet ??? i am curious !!!

I own one and have used it on three of my steel-stringed guitars. I think it definitely helps new guitars. The changes were subtle but noticeable. It makes the tone a little sweeter (whatever that means) so you need to like the tone of your guitar already. Different strings, an armrest, or a bone saddle will likely have more of a tone difference.

One of my guitars is a Breedlove Northwest Classic. Sitka top with Myrtlewood bad and sides. I bought it online. It wasn't very loud and the bass wasn't all that pronounced. This guitar already had a bone nut and bone saddle. The tone I was getting from the guitar wasn't the same as what other owners reported from this guitar. It saddened me that I didn't love this very expensive guitar. Boo hoo.

So I bought the Tonerite and put it on the Breedlove and hot damn I had new guitar after three days!! This was the only guitar that reacted this way. The other two guitars (Taylor 412ce sitka/walnut and Taylor 12-fret GC Koa) the changes were not drastic at all. The two Taylors sounded fantastic to me I just used the Tonerite on them because they were new and I wanted to break them in so why not.

I just got an acoustic guitar in a trade a couple of weeks ago, a Fender GA something. It has a solid sitka top and solid rosewood back with laminate rosewood sides. I don't hear much complexity or bass from the rosewood. It has a tusq saddle and it may be a little dehydrated from the previous owner. A bone saddle will likely bring out the bass a little more and it has been in a humidified room for a couple of weeks now. I figured I would try the Tonerite and see what it could do to help this guitar. I still hear no change after about 4 days of using it. This is why I think the Tonerite might help newer guitars loosen up while doing nothing for played guitars. My other guitars are USA built and are much lighter builds. In comparison the Fender is what they call "overbuilt" because the wood pieces are thicker. It is a heavier guitar. I don't know if this hasn't anything to do with the response of the guitar to the Tonerite.

Tonerite claims you must keep using their device (or perhaps playing your guitar) otherwise your instrument will go back to the way it was. They also claim it is good to warm up your instrument with the Tonerite before playing it. Not sure about this. I haven't done any tests to validate or invalidate these claims. They also claim that using different frequencies (level of vibration) on the device will bring out different things in the guitars tone.

What I know is what I experienced above. I think it works better on new instruments. I think it can have a dramatic effect on one instrument while having subtle effects on another.

The cheaper way to go is a suction cup vibrator. Definitely helps open up the wood.

Well, I took off the Tonerite and tried the guitar for a few minutes.
I've had the device on full, and it did indeed increase the volume of an already loud guitar. Also, the high end frequencies are definitely stronger. The guitar does feel noticeably more responsive too. It has another 17 hrs to go, do I'm really wondering what the final result will be.
I think I'll do a second run at a lower setting, it's supposed to enhance the lower frequencies.
Oddly enough, it hasn't totally killed the strings yet,( D'addario Gypsy Jazz 10-45).

Well, so far it's done 2 things; it's made the guitar far more responsive and "alive",and it's changed the tone. The guitar is much more "woody" sounding,if that makes sense.I decided to go the full 144hrs for the first treatment,going by the improvement that the initial 72 hrs had. Gonna try my Yamaha Nylon string this week, and see what the TR does for it.

. . . I just got an acoustic guitar in a trade a couple of weeks ago, a Fender GA something. It has a solid sitka top and solid rosewood back with laminate rosewood sides. I don't hear much complexity or bass from the rosewood. It has a tusq saddle and it may be a little dehydrated from the previous owner. A bone saddle will likely bring out the bass a little more and it has been in a humidified room for a couple of weeks now. I figured I. . . . .
In ALL of my experience, drier is better. In fact, now that I've stopped humidifying my house (since I'm not running the furnace anymore), my guitars are sounding better. Goes to show how subjective "good sounding" can be!

Greg

Well, so far it's done 2 things; it's made the guitar far more responsive and "alive",and it's changed the tone. The guitar is much more "woody" sounding,if that makes sense.I decided to go the full 144hrs for the first treatment,going by the improvement that the initial 72 hrs had. Gonna try my Yamaha Nylon string this week, and see what the TR does for it.

I'm intrigued. Keep the feedback coming. I'd like to know how it works out on the nylon string.

Cheers

Sean

I'd like to hear a "before" and "after" recording (under controlled conditions) with this device.

The Nylon string ( Yamaha NTX900FM) finished yesterday with the same result; Louder, more responsive,all frequencies goosed!! It really,really improved the guitar overall. I've got it on my Larrivee L-05 right now.

Oh, and it's made me a far better musician, I've dropped 25lbs,and women now find me irrisistable!! lol

Oh, and it's made me a far better musician, I've dropped 25lbs,and women now find me irrisistable!! lol

:lol:

Larrivee just finished an hour ago, same results.