quote:

Originally posted by northernbreed:
Maybe someone should buy one, and then rent it out to folks on a 1-2 week basis. Heck - I'd give it a go for a few bucks.

I like this idea! Anyone one who has one willing to rent it out?
Could be a cool Collings Forum experiment.

quote:

Originally posted by 007:

quote:

Originally posted by northernbreed:
Maybe someone should buy one, and then rent it out to folks on a 1-2 week basis. Heck - I'd give it a go for a few bucks.

I like this idea! Anyone one who has one willing to rent it out?
Could be a cool Collings Forum experiment.

I'd pay $40 to give it a go for a week or two.

I wanted to start this thread about 4 months ago, but was afraid of the responce I would get.I'm glad it's here now! The Mandolincafe is an amazingly VAST collection of info for anyone into acoustic music.Dont think that it is all about mandolins either. So imagine if 18 of the top 20 Guitar Luthiers were posting opinions and helping just regular mooks like us on some site everyday. Because THAT is what happens everyday over there in the 'Repair and Building' section. There seem to be no secrets at all between all of them and everyone else whos a FORUM member. So the thread on the TONERITE Machine over there was a hot one with some of the Biggest Boys in the mando world (both player/collectors and Luthiers) weighing in. The BIG thread over there on this subject is almost 10 pages long and one the only people I can think of who did not weigh in is Frank Ford ( who runs FRETS. com the largest guitar repair site in the world,and who also contributes to the FORUM several times a day.) So, the question is, does the TONERITE work? On Mandolins, this thing works in a dramatic, seemingly permanent way..... Kerry K

quote:

I like this idea! Anyone one who has one willing to rent it out?

At least for the time being, mine has a lot of work to do around the house. There is no shortage of guitars around here. I intend to use it on instruments that have a lot of ”miles“ on them as well as the newer ones. That’s gonna take some time.

After that, if I decide to send it around, it will be as a loaner, rather than on a rental basis.

On the other hand, it’s also possible that I may discover that it is beneficial to run it 24/7 until it dies. I’ve never heard of a guitar sounding worse because it has been played too much.

Reports to follow.

sonoman wrote:

quote:

Never thought I'd consider buying a vibrator through the male, uh, mail. tom

Come to think of it, that might be a good cost-effective alternative . . . When your wife finds it though, good luck trying to explain you bought it to make your guitar sound better.

Mattmoo, Thank you so much for that information. I actually got on the Mandolin Cafe forum and read all seven pages of this Tonerite device...very interesting.
I seem to recall some discussion on vibrating devices here about a year ago that actually originated from the Martin forum. Some fellow used a couple of Conair vibraters on the top of his guitar and he was very pleased with the results.

There was alot of jokes made about it, you know, stuff like, "I'll bet his guitar was really happy" and such. This fellow, though, was adamant about how great it made his guitar sound.

I think this Tonrite is a great idea, a little expensive, but a great idea.

Like several others, I've been wanting to weigh in on this but was pretty sure the reaction would be somewhat flippant. Can't imagine why I thought that!

Several weeks ago after reading through the Mando threads I was interested enough to contact the company. Back then the gizmo was selling for close to $300 and that seemed pretty steep. I got a reply (excellent folks by the way, very responsive, great customer service) saying they were going to be cutting the price in a few weeks, would I be interested in a unit for $150? Well, sure! Somehow in my financial calculation $300 is more than I think this thing might be worth, but at $150 it is certainly a bargain. They also offer a 30 day no questions refund, so I had nothing to lose.

So, after using it on a few of my guitars for at least the 72 hour recommended period, what's the result?

My first test subject was my B&H SJ, a Braz/Alpine version of a 1943 Gibson SJ. I've owned this guitar for almost 2 years, played it a bunch, love it. It is as big, loud, full and rich as any guitar could ever be. If anything, it is too loud, ear ringing loud, Marshall stack loud. Even with all this, it has always sounded just a bit tight to me, there has always been just a hint of zing in the trebles that I was pretty certain would go away with time. To be sure, the guitar has started to "open up" over the last couple months, deepening, relaxing, getting a bit clearer and punchier. Then I put on the ToneRite and let it cook. Well, the result has been very, very positive. In all the ways we read about, the guitar is bigger, more open, deeper bass, the treble zing is less, the guitar seems to vibrate more against my chest.

Let me be clear, the difference is NOT night and day, more like mid morning to late afternoon. Still, it is very good.

I've been using it on other guitars with results ranging from quite noticeable to not much difference. Some of this has to do with whether the guitars were already quite open to how often the guitars get played. I have a Circa 12 fret slope shoulder in coco and Engelmann that is maybe my number one all round guitar, it showed very little change. I also have a Claxton OM (EM) in mahogany and Adi and it seemed much nicer after the treatment (although it has always been an exceptional guitar).

Overall I am very pleased with the purchase and have no intention of sending the unit back on the 30 day trial. One thing I believe is true, and this is a controversy, is that guitars do go to sleep if not played regularly. If one has a number of guitars (I have 8), then there will be some down time with the instruments. The ToneRite will help keep them awake. This isn't required, but it is a nice luxury to have.

Finally, of all the guitar makers, Collings is frequently mentioned as producing guitars that are a bit tight when new. This has been my experience, for sure. While I no longer own any new Collings so I can't verify this, I would guess that a ToneRite should be standard equipment with a new Collings. "Instant varnish?" No, I don't think so, but more than worth the $150.

Again, the customer service has been as good as the very best I've ever experienced, the company has a 30 day risk free trial, they have recently cut the price to $150, you have no reason not to try! I'm sold on the device, it works for me.

Question for anyone with experience...will it fit any Collings acoustic regardless of width at nut/saddle, etc?

Freeblues wrote:

quote:

. . . the guitar seems to vibrate more against my chest.

Are you sure you remembered to turn the ToneRite off?

Call me old fashion (or better yet, Vintage ), but I kinda like the idea that I'm the one getting the guitar to open up, not some electrical device. Still, it's worth considering, particularly at the lower price.

BTW, according to their website, they subscribe to the "going to sleep" phenomenon, so they recommend using the Tonerite periodically after the initial full strength use. Course, that would encourage someone to purchase rather than trying to find someone who will lend it out one time. FWIW.

As a paid up subscriber to "going to sleep", both myself, several guitars, and a number of audiences i've held "in the palm of my hand" look forward to this technological vibrating right hand.
Anyway i'm getting too old to wait 5 years for these 2 new Collings to fully open up so bring it on.

Has anyone tried this device on a Varnish? I don't know if it can add much more to what it already has.