quote:

Originally posted by elambo:
Keep the strings, lose the towel, stand it upright.

After reading your description I'm 100% sure that the rug and towels were absorbing the vibrations. Put it on a stand and run another 72 hours.

I don't see how the strings could go bad from the TR. It's oil (i.e. sweat) that kills strings, not vibrations. I've TR'd three guitars and the strings weren't affected in the least by any of the treatments.

Ok - I just have the stands where the lower bout will rest against the padded legs (ultimate stand). is there a better one you could recommend. thanks alot

That's what I did- the only points of contact are the two spots on the lower bout and the one bit on the neck. elambo's right on- lose the towel. It's strangling the very vibration you're looking for. My guess is that it'll work for you. good fortune, tom

quote:

Originally posted by sonoman:
That's what I did- the only points of contact are the two spots on the lower bout and the one bit on the neck. elambo's right on- lose the towel. It's strangling the very vibration you're looking for. My guess is that it'll work for you. good fortune, tom

Thanks Tom - it's vibrating as we speak

quote:

I don't see how the strings could go bad from the TR. It's oil (i.e. sweat) that kills strings, not vibrations. I've TR'd three guitars and the strings weren't affected in the least by any of the treatments.

elambo,
you may well be correct. I don't know. I phoned my father who invents oil field equipment and he said that harmonic vibration can cause metal fatigue. Now I don't know how much fatigue is caused by the TR and how it affects the strings but I would not dismiss it as a possibility. I also have to take my experience seriously. I had new strings prior to a TR treatment. After the TR treatment, the guitar sounded terrible until I changed strings. This happened with two different guitars.
I don't know how to account for our varied experiences. I used coated strings. I don't know if that makes a difference.

I, too, think that the towel soaked up the vibrations.

If Andrew is not happy with the sound after it cooks for three more days, I think he should change the strings and report back what happened.

Peace,
Rip

Originally, I thought that the ToneRite did not affect the strings. Likely because the guitar sounded better after the treatment. However, others did notice a difference. After a recent second round of TR treatment for 3 days on the same guitar, which had a set of strings with only a few hours playing time, I changed strings, and discovered a noticeable improvement.

Dirt and corrosion may be a good part of string wear, but I think vibration is an element also.

Yes, maybe it is different with coated strings. Mine are not coated and they survived the three-day TR sessions just fine. They were new strings so I would have noticed rather easily.

I do know that metal fatigue can come from vibrations, but I hadn't thought it could be a factor in the sound of strings, at least not at this low level of intensity for this short amount of time. But I'm certainly not an expert in the field. Just basing this on my limited understanding and the three rounds of TR.

But your new strings did need replacing after the TR, so something happening here. Coated vs. uncoated? Eh, I just don't see it. I have a feeling that the answer is somewhere else.

quote:

Originally posted by Alex Z:
After a recent second round of TR treatment for 3 days on the same guitar, which had a set of strings with only a few hours playing time, I changed strings, and discovered a noticeable improvement.

Interesting. I think I may need to change my strings then. Although they do sound new, I won't know for sure until after I lay new ones down.

You said a "few hours playing time" which, in some cases, and certainly depending on the type of string, can be enough to make them sound used. A new set, TR'd or not, may sound different. Again, depends on the type of strings and your amount of sweat and its acidity.

I'll definately check back after 2nd round, pre and post string change results.

cheers

Andrew

I changed strings the first time I used the TR, just to take that variable out of play. In subsequent applications, I did not change strings and noticed no significant degradation of the strings. I do not customarily use coated strings, if that matters. tom

elambo,

I agree that short period TR treatments (like 3-6) appear to me to have no effect on string quality. I have noticed on my OM2HG "guinea pig" that constant TR treatment does seem to take some life out of the strings.

With that said, the OM2HG seems to demand fresh strings to sound it's best, while I've found my adi topped Collings sound good with new and old strings. So maybe it is the darkness of the OM2HG and what I perceive is a need for newer strings that is really the root of this. None-the-less, weeks on the TR seem to dull the strings just enough on the OM2HG to make it noticeable.

Then again, I could be completely mistaken about this.

Keep Pickin
mattmoo

If you use the TR when the humidity is high it may accelerate the uptake of moisture and thus make the guitar sound "tubby", similar to dead string, in some cases it can also kill the strings.
have also noticed the guitar is best after it has settled for a day or 2 after TR.
Phil

Phild28

I agree with your observation that with the ToneRite the guitar is best after it has settled for 2 days.

I simply don't remember the humidity on the days when I used the ToneRite. In Seattle we can have some humidity but it's nothing compared to Houston, TX or the mid-west. But as a rule, we don't have air conditioning so that the humidity of the house does differ. Perhaps the humidity of Seattle is similar to that of London.

Peace,
Rip

PS. This issue about ToneRite and strings merits a scientific study IMHO. Is would be nice to isolate the independent factor(s) which explain the different experiences.