ToneRite accessory

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Permalink Reply by Erin Shrader on November 2, 2009 at 8:09am

I have tried it. I don't think it will hurt your instrument. The piece covers your bridge like a soft rubber practice mute and the shaking is gentle. We left it on a long time, but never noticed a difference in sound. That's just the result on one violin. I'd be interested in hearing someone else's experience.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Torosian on November 2, 2009 at 9:58am

Okay, I see. It must depend on the instrument, I guess. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Keating on January 24, 2010 at 6:51pm

Never heard of ToneRite, but I've been wondering about what would help my violin's tone. It sounds bright and abrasive and I wanted it a bit warmer sounding. I tried a big ugly black rubber mute that definitely changed the tone but way too much as well as killing any projection. Never tried a wood or metal mute. What I have on it now, get this, is a paper clip spread slightly so it squeezes the bridge just a little bit. It warmed up and darkened the tone just enough and I'm pretty happy with it. Didn't lose any volume either and it's not that noticeable. Cheap simple household items can sometimes work wonders.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Torosian on January 25, 2010 at 10:42am

A paperclip? Really? Wow, I never would have dreamed of it. How did you come up with that idea?
I have a mute, but I never really use it because in youth orchestra I'm the principal, and in the group I usually gig with I'm competing with the guitar and bass amps and the drum kit, aside from the rest of the mini-orchestra.
I wanted to try the ToneRite, but I haven't because the only information besides this discussion here is the ad in Strings and Shar, and it's not really convincing.

Kevin Keating said:

Never heard of ToneRite, but I've been wondering about what would help my violin's tone. It sounds bright and abrasive and I wanted it a bit warmer sounding. I tried a big ugly black rubber mute that definitely changed the tone but way too much as well as killing any projection. Never tried a wood or metal mute. What I have on it now, get this, is a paper clip spread slightly so it squeezes the bridge just a little bit. It warmed up and darkened the tone just enough and I'm pretty happy with it. Didn't lose any volume either and it's not that noticeable. Cheap simple household items can sometimes work wonders.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Keating on January 25, 2010 at 12:25pm

I was looking for a mute that I could leave on the instrument permanently, if I wanted, but didn't stand out as a modification. Most mutes sit on top of the bridge above the strings which distorts my view of the strings. None were made to go UNDER the strings, out of the way. Tried a clothes pin first. That worked, but it looked strange. A rubber band wrapped around the bridge didn't work at all. The paperclip is no wider than the bridge itself. I slide it in from the E string side with the smaller loop forward of the bridge. The bigger loop just barely touches the E string behind the bridge. It's not that noticeable, at least not from a distance. Hey! Just had a thought. Paperclips come in colors, don't they? Anyway, it made the tone a little warmer and took the abrasiveness out of it.

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Permalink Reply by Erin Shrader on January 25, 2010 at 5:14pm

The right strings for your instrument can warm things up, also adjustment or new set up by a good maker, different tailpiece, tailpiece hanger even. Almost everything has an effect on sound. Different bows can have quite an amazing effect.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Torosian on January 26, 2010 at 12:10pm

Yes, paperclips come in colors. Functional accessory with a fun twist? Lol, nifty! :)

Kevin Keating said:

I was looking for a mute that I could leave on the instrument permanently, if I wanted, but didn't stand out as a modification. Most mutes sit on top of the bridge above the strings which distorts my view of the strings. None were made to go UNDER the strings, out of the way. Tried a clothes pin first. That worked, but it looked strange. A rubber band wrapped around the bridge didn't work at all. The paperclip is no wider than the bridge itself. I slide it in from the E string side with the smaller loop forward of the bridge. The bigger loop just barely touches the E string behind the bridge. It's not that noticeable, at least not from a distance. Hey! Just had a thought. Paperclips come in colors, don't they? Anyway, it made the tone a little warmer and took the abrasiveness out of it.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Torosian on January 26, 2010 at 12:14pm

I've been wanting to try a new bow for my viola. I hate the one that came with it, it's the cheapest brazilwood bow Shar throws in with the rental outfit, and it's so uncooperative. I always feel like I'm fighting with it to get any sound out. I want to upgrade, maybe try a carbon fiber bow, since I own the outfit now; don't have the money at the present time though. :( I've heard good things about carbon fiber bows, they're supposed to be really durable and good for playing outside- I like to practice outside in the summertime, but the North Carolina heat and humidity works against me.

Erin Shrader said:

The right strings for your instrument can warm things up, also adjustment or new set up by a good maker, different tailpiece, tailpiece hanger even. Almost everything has an effect on sound. Different bows can have quite an amazing effect.

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Permalink Reply by Catherine Guthrie on January 27, 2010 at 2:14am

I had seen ads for ToneRite and I was curious too... =) but just wanted to mention... in the latest String Magazine there was an article about how a wood shoulder rest can produce a warmer sound. I guess it can really can change your tonal color and there is "a marked tonal difference from shoulder rest to shoulder rest." It was very interesting and here is what they said:

maple=brighter and clearer tone across all frequencies (the more dense the maple the more this is the case)
walnut=darkest overall and sweet in the upper registers, fewest overtones
nonwood=ringier and brighter, causes the violin to produce more overtones

I think I'm probably going to experiment with this soon.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Keating on January 27, 2010 at 6:34am

There was an article on violinist.com about this. Honestly, I think the biggest effect will be on appearance. The wood of the rest is still separated from the body of the instrument itself by hardware and rubber insulators so I don't think there will be much or any sound transfer. Some things can make a change however. Erin made some good suggestions. It's easy to get caught up trying new gadgets. For years on electric guitar, I suffered from acute G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome). Pickups, pedals, amps. The same can happen with violin and it can get frustrating and take the fun out of it. But try it. You might find it more comfortable. I'm not crazy about my rest for comfort reasons.

Catherine Guthrie said:

I had seen ads for ToneRite and I was curious too... =) but just wanted to mention... in the latest String Magazine there was an article about how a wood shoulder rest can produce a warmer sound. I guess it can really can change your tonal color and there is "a marked tonal difference from shoulder rest to shoulder rest." It was very interesting and here is what they said:

maple=brighter and clearer tone across all frequencies (the more dense the maple the more this is the case)
walnut=darkest overall and sweet in the upper registers, fewest overtones
nonwood=ringier and brighter, causes the violin to produce more overtones

I think I'm probably going to experiment with this soon.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly Torosian on January 27, 2010 at 10:54am

Yeah, I read that article too. Very interesting.

Catherine Guthrie said:

I had seen ads for ToneRite and I was curious too... =) but just wanted to mention... in the latest String Magazine there was an article about how a wood shoulder rest can produce a warmer sound. I guess it can really can change your tonal color and there is "a marked tonal difference from shoulder rest to shoulder rest." It was very interesting and here is what they said:

maple=brighter and clearer tone across all frequencies (the more dense the maple the more this is the case)
walnut=darkest overall and sweet in the upper registers, fewest overtones
nonwood=ringier and brighter, causes the violin to produce more overtones

I think I'm probably going to experiment with this soon.

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Permalink Reply by Erin Shrader on January 28, 2010 at 10:16am

You know, for about 20 years I didn't think there could be any audible difference among shoulder rests. A total skeptic myself, the only reason I even considered the idea was because a recording engineer I work with, who has amazing ears, mentioned it. When I questioned, he insisted it was true. He plays in a band with Greg Spatz, who I eventually asked to write the article, and was on that shoulder-rest shopping trip with Greg. At the top of the article, Greg mentions that Paul Eliott tipped him off about shoulder rest sound. I've known Paul for many years and he's one of the best musicians I've ever met. Purely by chance (well, fiddle music is a small world and I grew up in the Northwest where this story takes place) I also know the bow makers who listened to the trials. Both are very subtle listeners and independent thinkers. They'd never just go along with anything.

So, I still don't understand why or how there could be a difference, but the conclusion comes from five of the most credible listeners I could imagine. So I've suspended my disbelief!

Kevin Keating said:

There was an article on violinist.com about this. Honestly, I think the biggest effect will be on appearance. The wood of the rest is still separated from the body of the instrument itself by hardware and rubber
insulators so I don't think there will be much or any sound transfer.
Some things can make a change however. Erin made some good suggestions.
It's easy to get caught up trying new gadgets. For years on electric
guitar, I suffered from acute G.A.S. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
Pickups, pedals, amps. The same can happen with violin and it can get
frustrating and take the fun out of it. But try it. You might find it
more comfortable. I'm not crazy about my rest for comfort reasons.

Catherine Guthrie said:

I had seen ads for ToneRite and I was curious too... =) but just wanted to mention... in the latest String Magazine there was an article about
how a wood shoulder rest can produce a warmer sound. I guess it can
really can change your tonal color and there is "a marked tonal
difference from shoulder rest to shoulder rest." It was very
interesting and here is what they said:

maple=brighter and clearer tone across all frequencies (the more dense the maple the more this is the case)
walnut=darkest overall and sweet in the upper registers, fewest overtones
nonwood=ringier and brighter, causes the violin to produce more overtones

I think I'm probably going to experiment with this soon.

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