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October 2002
Posts: 153
Location: Huntington Beach, CA | Anyone familiar with the use of sound waves (vibrations) applied to the soundboard to age the tone of a guitar? I know this is done to solid wood guitars by strapping the body to an enormous speaker and running various frequencies through the guitar to broaden the output range, create balance, add boom, etc. Just wonder if this can be done to lycracord round-backs.
I have a CL that gets more case than play time and the soundboard hasn't loosened up much yet. I've thought about experimenting with a variation of this concept using several speakers applied to the top (inside and out) and playing classic rock through the board.
What's your take on this? Thanks. |
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January 2005
Posts: 4903
Location: Phoenix AZ | You just draw a line around the edge of the guitar top with a green felt tip pen. Hey, it worked for CD's.
Seriously, I hear far less about Ovations "opening up" then I do about other wooden box type guitars. It could all be a hoax. To my crappy ears, my ovations sound every bit the same now as they did the day they were born. Which is a good thing. The sound you buy, is the sound you'll more or less always have.
Dave |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | this was brought up a while back....dont rember what became of it...jason |
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September 2006
Posts: 713
Location: Alberta, Canada | Just got my 1112-4 back from the mothership for top replacement, in early December. Several times I have placed the guitar up to my stereo speakers and cranked the volume for an hour or so each time. I could tell a marked improvement in tone each time. I've now got around 100 hours on it and it sounds very good. IMHO, I do believe there is a benifit to doing the speaker thing along with playin' the hell out of it.
Dave |
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May 2002
Posts: 1445
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada | I have my acoustic O's hanging above my electric guitar amps and when I crank those, the guitars above are fairly dancing on the walls with sympathetic (with my playing, probably VERY sympathetic) vibrations and harmonic tones. I have always thought this was good for them for that very reason, especially if they haven't been getting enough play time.
Wayne |
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June 2005
Posts: 1320
Location: Round Rock, TX | The sound of my '06 Collectors has definitely changed over time (and not that much time). It does hang on the wall and get a lot of loud music played in its vicinity - and, of course, I play it fairly often. I related in a different thread how I played it twice with a friend of mine who plays a cannon. The first time the Koa wouldn't keep up. The second time (almost a year later) it kept up, no problem. I still wouldn't call it a cannon, but it's not afraid of 'em.
I'm sure it also depends a lot on what kind of wood it's topped with. |
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January 2007
Posts: 7
| HUH |
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January 2006
Posts: 1118
Location: NW Washington State | You can really break in your guitar with one of these bass shakers: http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=299-0...
If the top is still attached after you're done, it'll sound great!
-Steve W. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I had a good luthier-friend tell me if I wanted to break in a guitar top to place it on a stand in front of my stereo speakers. The idea sounds like it has merit, but I don't play my stereo as much as I do the guitars. (: |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I just play mine. Silly me... I guess I'm just old-fashioned.
Also, two of mine were old when I got them, hence, they were pre-seasoned. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The tops will open up with playing time. My 84 sounds better now than it did when new. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Bill, your 84 is a great guitar. Serge just got one and is raving over it.... |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Yes, I got a contact too on that. And Yes, He's a Happy, Lucky guy. |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I had the opportunity to play an upright bass made in the early 1600's at Cage's shop in NYC, and it was awesomely broad. It's true instruments do get a richer tone with age. From my experience, you have to start with a good instrument. A crappy sounding instrument will not get better, though a good sounding instrument probably will.
I have a CA1624 made in 1976 which has wonderfully broad tone.
And as for my MEII Adamas, I believe that after 3 years of playing it, despite a composite top, it too has broadened. Ask me in 2 more years for confirmation. |
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Vintaging your "O"
