Tonerite - a play-in device for the guitar, any experiences?

[Zaned]

This caused some heated discussion on a finnish musician forum. To cut a long story short, it's a device that's meant to simulate constant playing on the guitar. Most serious guitarists have experienced guitars (especially the ones they bought as new) getting better as they are played. Myself included.

A respected guitar dealer in Finland offers this as a treatment for guitars, and also sells these devices. Some finnish luthiers have also tried it and say it works. Most of the people who have tried it say it works, more on some instruments than others. The people who are most skeptic are of course the ones who haven't tried the thing :)

Any experiences here?

http://tonerite.com/guitar/vmchk

-Zaned

[Philly Q]

I seem to recall reading a review of that, or something similar, in a guitar magazine quite recently.  They compared it with a similar device from another manufacturer, I think.

The review was favourable, if I remember right.  But they only tested it on acoustic guitars - maybe it was only intended for acoustic guitars.  I'd have been more interested in the effect on electrics.

[AndyR]

No experience, and I too seem to recall reading about it before...

But, VERY INTERESTING.

I've got too many guitars to play them all regularly. Also, I've been through a period of not playing everyday for a few months. Now, every guitar I have (even the ones cleaned and new-strung), feels "foreign" and uncooperative. I pick up one for a little blast and put it down again as "not very inspiring"...

For years, I've blamed me and my playing for this effect - and "played through it". My reasoning has been, if you haven't played for a bit, then you are rusty. Equally, if you are "in" on other guitars, but pick one up that you haven't played for a while, then I've always assumed it was me as the player who hadn't "tuned in" to the instrument yet.

This sounds like it might help :D

BUT... I kind of fear we might looking at another "magic bullet" that doesn't actually do too much except trigger a bit of a placebo effect in the player. Still, $150 for a working placebo effect isn't too bad!! :lol:

[Zaned]

..and I'd be very interested in buying this device with some local friend of mine! That'd split the cost in half, about a to a cost of one wild night  :lol:

I have 2 similarly aged guitars at my home, both from 2009. One of them belongs to my father and is 'on a loan' to me, and the other is my custom strat. The latter has been played a lot since I got it, and it has mellowed in tone from what it was. It went from Nailbomb->Holy Diver->Nailbomb again with its bridge pickup. Nailbomb was initially a bit too aggressive in the highs somehow, which was replaced by the Holy Diver. Which was great for a few years, but last year it started to feel that the mids were too pronounced. So back in went the Nailbomb, and now it was great!

But the other strat hasn't been played much. It was initially mine, played well but I never bonded with it really. I sold it to my father, but he doesn't really have the motivation to play and just gave it to me to keep at my home. And it just stays in the case.

I'd be interested in trying it on that guitar, to see if I could some of the 'stiffness' out of it (for a lack of better word). And I also have a newish Seagull electric acoustic, which has a stiff feeling also. It's something in the mids I feel, although it's not a high-end guitar anyway. Just something I need for an occasion every now and then.

-Zaned

[Telerocker]

..and I'd be very interested in buying this device with some local friend of mine! That'd split the cost in half, about a to a cost of one wild night  :lol:

I have 2 similarly aged guitars at my home, both from 2009. One of them belongs to my father and is 'on a loan' to me, and the other is my custom strat. The latter has been played a lot since I got it, and it has mellowed in tone from what it was. It went from Nailbomb->Holy Diver->Nailbomb again with its bridge pickup. Nailbomb was initially a bit too aggressive in the highs somehow, which was replaced by the Holy Diver. Which was great for a few years, but last year it started to feel that the mids were too pronounced. So back in went the Nailbomb, and now it was great!

But the other strat hasn't been played much. It was initially mine, played well but I never bonded with it really. I sold it to my father, but he doesn't really have the motivation to play and just gave it to me to keep at my home. And it just stays in the case.

I'd be interested in trying it on that guitar, to see if I could some of the 'stiffness' out of it (for a lack of better word). And I also have a newish Seagull electric acoustic, which has a stiff feeling also. It's something in the mids I feel, although it's not a high-end guitar anyway. Just something I need for an occasion every now and then.

-Zaned

Many years I had a Seagull S6 CE with a ceder top and cherry sides and back. They really sound better after some years. For the money they have a great tone. The neck is not the fastest or the easiest to play compared to other brands. It needs a good setup. I sold mine. Amplified the high E-string was too soft, the B and G too loud.

[Kiichi]

Many years I had a Seagull S6 CE with a ceder top and cherry sides and back. They really sound better after some years. For the money they have a great tone. The neck is not the fastest or the easiest to play compared to other brands. It needs a good setup. I sold mine. Amplified the high E-string was too soft, the B and G too loud.

BKP user sells guitar because pickups sound bad?

[Philly Q]

Many years I had a Seagull S6 CE with a ceder top and cherry sides and back. They really sound better after some years. For the money they have a great tone. The neck is not the fastest or the easiest to play compared to other brands. It needs a good setup. I sold mine. Amplified the high E-string was too soft, the B and G too loud.

I like the look of Seagulls, that weird little headstock is quite appealing.  I've heard that cedar "breaks in" much quicker than spruce.

[Lew]

mmmmmm not sure what I think but it's interesting all the same