Post by CTGull on Dec 14, 2018 7:19:33 GMT -5
I've been wanting to try one of these for a few years. www.tonerite.com/ It probably wouldn't do anything for my vintage Yamaha's, although I'd try it anyway, but I have a few solid wood guitars that I think would benefit from it.
3 or 4 years ago there was a used one on CraigsList nearly an hour from me for $75. I stupidly passed. A couple of weeks ago I found another one on CraigsList. He was asking $80 or best reasonable offer. And the ad was 20 days old. So I sent an email asking if it was still available. I didn't get an immediate response, so I figured it wasn't. They I got a simple "YES" back a day and a half later. So I offered $70. A day later I hadn't gotten a response, so I sent another email, asking if it was still available. No response for another 2 days.
BUT!! In the middle of all this, there's another ToneRite thread on the AGF. www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=505191&page=9 ToneRite recently became a sponsor on the AFG. A ToneRite representative joined the recent thread and took a ton of abuse. And offered to bring back the Black Friday deal for anyone who emailed him. So I inquired, and talked about my Yamaha obsession and the guitars I'd like to try the ToneRite on. The ToneRite is normally $149. He said the Black Friday deal was $129, be he also told be he could send me a special invoice for $120. Since the guy who has the used ToneRite hadn't gotten back to me in over a day, I said YES!!
Right after I paid for it I received a response from the guy with the used one. He said he didn't think he could drive that far (referring to I told him I am an hour away). Being baffled as to why he though he'd have to drive it to me, AND I had just bought a new one at a reduced price, I told him I had found another one, thanks anyway. I assume the only reason he hadn't sold it is no one wants to deal with someone who only responds every day or 2.
BUT!!! USPS is a mess!!!! I had ordered some acoustic foam panels for my mini milling machine (another story!), and the second set shipped still didn't show USPS receiving them 5 days later. AND the same thing happened with my ToneRite!!!!! It shipped last week and was scheduled to be delivered this past Monday. And that's the last I heard about it. The tracking would only say "In Transit". But finally it showed up on Springfield MA yesterday morning, and then my local post office this morning. I SHOULD GET IT TODAY!!!!
It's been rather cold and dry lately. I've been struggling to keep the humidity downstairs above 35%. I didn't want to hang a solid wood guitar out for a few days with humidity that low. BUT, it's supposed to be a bit warmer and rain this week end. PERFECT weather to hang a guitar!! Inside though.
So we'll see this afternoon if I get it.
There's one possible problem. On the ToneRite site there are no specs. It's a magical mystery vibrating box, just buy it. Stew Mac says the max string spacing it will work on is 2-5/32" (2.156"). That could be a problem. My Martin OM-21 is 2-3/16" (2.188"), and I want to use it on a couple of Seagull guitars with 2.17" spacing. AND I want to build the YamaGull at possibly 2-1/4" (2.25") spacing. If it can't be used on guitars with over 2-5/32" spacing it may not be very useful to me. I guess I'll find out soon. Maybe I can modify it for wider strings spacings.
3 or 4 years ago there was a used one on CraigsList nearly an hour from me for $75. I stupidly passed. A couple of weeks ago I found another one on CraigsList. He was asking $80 or best reasonable offer. And the ad was 20 days old. So I sent an email asking if it was still available. I didn't get an immediate response, so I figured it wasn't. They I got a simple "YES" back a day and a half later. So I offered $70. A day later I hadn't gotten a response, so I sent another email, asking if it was still available. No response for another 2 days.
BUT!! In the middle of all this, there's another ToneRite thread on the AGF. www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=505191&page=9 ToneRite recently became a sponsor on the AFG. A ToneRite representative joined the recent thread and took a ton of abuse. And offered to bring back the Black Friday deal for anyone who emailed him. So I inquired, and talked about my Yamaha obsession and the guitars I'd like to try the ToneRite on. The ToneRite is normally $149. He said the Black Friday deal was $129, be he also told be he could send me a special invoice for $120. Since the guy who has the used ToneRite hadn't gotten back to me in over a day, I said YES!!
Right after I paid for it I received a response from the guy with the used one. He said he didn't think he could drive that far (referring to I told him I am an hour away). Being baffled as to why he though he'd have to drive it to me, AND I had just bought a new one at a reduced price, I told him I had found another one, thanks anyway. I assume the only reason he hadn't sold it is no one wants to deal with someone who only responds every day or 2.
BUT!!! USPS is a mess!!!! I had ordered some acoustic foam panels for my mini milling machine (another story!), and the second set shipped still didn't show USPS receiving them 5 days later. AND the same thing happened with my ToneRite!!!!! It shipped last week and was scheduled to be delivered this past Monday. And that's the last I heard about it. The tracking would only say "In Transit". But finally it showed up on Springfield MA yesterday morning, and then my local post office this morning. I SHOULD GET IT TODAY!!!!
It's been rather cold and dry lately. I've been struggling to keep the humidity downstairs above 35%. I didn't want to hang a solid wood guitar out for a few days with humidity that low. BUT, it's supposed to be a bit warmer and rain this week end. PERFECT weather to hang a guitar!! Inside though.
So we'll see this afternoon if I get it.
There's one possible problem. On the ToneRite site there are no specs. It's a magical mystery vibrating box, just buy it. Stew Mac says the max string spacing it will work on is 2-5/32" (2.156"). That could be a problem. My Martin OM-21 is 2-3/16" (2.188"), and I want to use it on a couple of Seagull guitars with 2.17" spacing. AND I want to build the YamaGull at possibly 2-1/4" (2.25") spacing. If it can't be used on guitars with over 2-5/32" spacing it may not be very useful to me. I guess I'll find out soon. Maybe I can modify it for wider strings spacings.