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Location: Alberta, Canada | I have heard from time to time about people placing a new instrument on or near a stereo speaker so that the sound vibrates through the instrument.
The idea is that the continuous exposure to the sound equates to the hours of playing needed to loosen the wood fibers and bring out the tone enhancing properties of the wood.
Supposedly, due to the full range of highs, mids, and lows, the tonal qualities of the instrument will ultimately far exceed what can be obtained thru "just normal playing".
Sounds plausible. Is there something to this or is it just another "Urban Myth/Legend"? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | if you place the guitar directly adjacent to a speaker and expose it to sufficient volume over long periods of time, it will season the top.
There are sound devices designed to do just that these days. |
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Location: Chicago | I like to add a bit of paprika or cumin to give the guitar that extra "kick". |
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Location: ranson,wva | id add a pinch of curry as well..jason |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | And what are these devices called? Where do you find them? Music stores, I'm guessing?
Have you ever tried this? And what kind of "over long periods of time" are we talking? |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | :) everyones a little spicy tonight,eh? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | i just bought three bottles of Cumin today... |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | My integrity always comes into question...
SERIOUSLY!
It is not a myth. There was a post, long ago, on this site with a picture of such a device. |
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Location: ranson,wva | i had curry chicken for dinner,there's a realy good indian joint down the street..jason |
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Location: Tennessee | I'm in favor of just playing the $h!t out of the guitar. That'll season the top. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Any sound device will do ,TV radio,screamin`kids,it`s about getting the guitar to vibrate so the wood will shake ,that`s all .. even playing it :) ....seems to work..takes month`s..years..
Vic |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | StoneBob = Beat me to it...I`m feelin`more seasoned allready :) |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
My integrity always comes into question...
SERIOUSLY!
It is not a myth. There was a post, long ago, on this site with a picture of such a device. Jeff, relax, your integrity is fine...really...seriously...relax, deep breaths nows, that's it...ok
Thanks, I do appreciated the feedback.
And guys, I'm not advocating not playing. Just curious about short tracking to better tone sooner. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I just got talked down by a Canadian...
Where the hell were you when we were thinking about going to Iraq? |
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Here\'s the device |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Jeff had integrity? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Thin ice, lawyer-boy. 
Dvd, thanks for posting the link. I was looking for that, but got distracted... |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Breeze getta hold of that high pitched whistle again? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Naw, not this time....
in my search, I ran across, MakeMeFeelDirty.Com.... |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
Where the hell were you when we were thinking about going to Iraq? Afganistan.
Still there. 
.........................................
I'd be careful what kind of music I exposed my guitar too...it might get higher expectations of me.
Or become despondent. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | dvd, thanks. That is most interesting. I don't think I'll be bringing one of those home, but, I'm sure going to try the stereo scenerio.
Jeff, I've been right here along. All you had to do was ask! :) I "will" talk you down, and I "will try" not to talk down to you. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Originally posted by colt357:
I "will try" not to talk down to you. That'd make you the first. |
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Location: SoCal | Always "talk down" to Jeff. Otherwise, he won't understand and will get spoiled.... |
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Location: closely held secret |  |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Just play the shit out of it. |
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Location: closely held secret | Exactly. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Or don't let Cliff near your guitar in the first place.... |
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Location: NJ | I'll have you know that there are several people here who would trust me implicitly with their much loved instruments . . .
(Moreso than some beery Canuck;-) |
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Location: NJ | Originally posted by cliff:
I'll have you know that there are several people here who would trust me implicitly with their much loved instruments . . .
(Moreso than some beery Canuck;-) cliff
the politically correct term is "iceback" |
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| Interesting article. Saturating the guitar top with a definite frequency of sound at a fix decible rate. Perhaps the processs can be specifically adapted for each type of wood. These guys are serious, using an electron microscope to measure changes in the wood...incredible. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by alpep:
"iceback" Or frostback, when working illegally in the U.S. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Our guitar tops have already spent between 150-500 years soaking in the sounds of falling rain and snowfall. They have been pierced by the cry of the Eagle by day and the screech of the Owl by night. The skitter of Chipmunks and the snort of Elk were their alarm clock.
Only recently have they heard the bite of the chainsaw and the ring of the saw blade. Only but a day of their lives has been spent being shaped and formed before they had a sudden rest, then were shaped once more.
Now they sit in taught suspension ready to sing the stories they have been hearing as they sat on the westward slopes tasting sunlight and sometimes a faint hint of the sea.
Take some time and try to hear it. Listen to the wood between the wires and the frame. It's the song I have heard when I've walked these Northwest slopes among them.
M(I'm a poet and don't know it)Woody |
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Location: SoCal | Hey Woodrow... a little bored at work today? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Woody's been sniffing the Deep Woods Off again. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I've been working over Cell Phone billing for 200...
...needed air! |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by MWoody:
Our guitar tops have already spent between 150-500 years soaking in the sounds of falling rain and snowfall. They have been pierced by the cry of the Eagle by day and the screech of the Owl by night. The skitter of Chipmunks and the snort of Elk were their alarm clock.
Only recently have they heard the bite of the chainsaw and the ring of the saw blade. Only but a day of their lives has been spent being shaped and formed before they had a sudden rest, then were shaped once more.
Now they sit in taught suspension ready to sing the stories they have been hearing as they sat on the westward slopes tasting sunlight and sometimes a faint hint of the sea.
Take some time and try to hear it. Listen to the wood between the wires and the frame. It's the song I have heard when I've walked these Northwest slopes among them.
M(I'm a poet and don't know it)Woody That was almost soulfull!
SOOOO....they don't call you M(r?)Woody for nothin'.
Were you a tree in another life? |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by alpep:
Originally posted by cliff:
I'll have you know that there are several people here who would trust me implicitly with their much loved instruments . . .
(Moreso than some beery Canuck;-) cliff
the politically correct term is "iceback" |
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Location: Houston, Texas | Originally posted by MWoody:
Our guitar tops have already spent between 150-500 years soaking in the sounds of falling rain and snowfall. They have been pierced by the cry of the Eagle by day and the screech of the Owl by night. The skitter of Chipmunks and the snort of Elk were their alarm clock.
Only recently have they heard the bite of the chainsaw and the ring of the saw blade. Only but a day of their lives has been spent being shaped and formed before they had a sudden rest, then were shaped once more.
Now they sit in taught suspension ready to sing the stories they have been hearing as they sat on the westward slopes tasting sunlight and sometimes a faint hint of the sea.
Take some time and try to hear it. Listen to the wood between the wires and the frame. It's the song I have heard when I've walked these Northwest slopes among them.
M(I'm a poet and don't know it)Woody 
M(I'm a lumberjack)Woody |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Originally posted by cwk2:
Just play the shit out of it. My guitar playing usually stinks...now I know why...I haven't played the smell out of it yet.
Am I close??? |
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Location: Oakton, VA | A noted mandolin builder spoke of this seasoning process: "it takes time for the mandolin to forget it's a tree". Eloquent, and it's about as much science as I can understand. |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | ...."In life I was silent -- in death I sweetly sing." (Dum Vixi Tacui, Mortua Dulce Cano) |
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Location: ranson,wva | memoires of a tiger maple....jason |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Thanks Rick
I saw it coming before I finished the second stanza!
;) |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Hard to believe you can think all that stuff up while sitting in a noisy, chemical stew, hot tub! |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Well, it seems there is evidence that there is something to this. So, now some brainstorming is needed as to how best to accomplish this at home, without the "fancy" machine.
With floor mounted stereo speakers I'm wondering about placing the guitar on a hanging type stand between the two and crank the volume when we're not home. But, the question is how far apart and aimed at the sides or front and back.
Suggestions? |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Directly in front and as close as you can get it to the largest speaker you got...
I have a friend in Ashville, NC who swears by this method. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Jeff, I was thinking along those lines, too. But after looking at the pic in the link that dvd posted, am wondering if there is an advantage to placing the speaker at the back of the guitar.
Given that on an Ovation only the "top of the body" is wood, then maybe facing the front is the way to go.
Does the air flow from the body effect the vibration of the top? Should one leave something like a "Lifeguard" in the sound hole or would that muffle the vibration?
I sure wish the factory would finish my O and get it back to me so I can have a life again! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | You want to essentially create "feedback" inside the guitar. Yes, face the soundboard to the speaker. |
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Location: Alberta, Canada | Thanks for clearing that up, Jeff.
I've got the stereo and the speakers, now I just need the guitar, and I can get this experiment underway! Stayed tuned. Reports to follow. Eventually!
Dave |
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Seasoning a new top