Ed,Chuck -- you seem to be acknowledging that your structural treatments cost something on the order of $300/instrument ($10/year times 30 years). In other words, you're willing to pay $300/instrument to make structural changes. That may be due to a problem with the instrument (e.g., a bridge lifting up) not covered by the warranty (you say you bought your GE used), but some of it seems to be due to a desire to make the instrument sound better.
I never stop learning. When I bought the GE I was under the impression that Martin had finally decided to return to its roots and build them as they did in the thirties. Unfortunately, I discovered that again Martin was better at its marketing speech than being factual about what it was producing. The GE is not constructed like those of the "golden era". They got better with the Authentic D-18 but had to compensate the price for potential warrantee work.
I was not at all disappointed with the GE, but when the bridge lifted, I was motivated and so was John to do get as close as possible on an existing instrument.
I was not referring to you. Joe Vest said he had a relationship with those that make or distribute the product. His evaluation was not even close to evidence or a scientific yet their is a definite suggestion that something positive occurred and now he suggests that evidence exists. That's his prerogative to suggest, but I would not purchase the product based on his evaluations.As for your suggestion that "these subjective opinions are introduced by those that have something to gain," that clearly is not true for me, or Big Joe, or any of a number of others who have posted on this Board. I would agree that Teri's original (and subsequent) post(s) are, as she acknowledges, affected in part by the fact that she is selling the Tonerite. But I'm not; I'm a user, not a vendor. Big Joe has indicated that he's not likely to sell Tonerites any time soon; he too is a user, not a vendor.
The Authentic price reflects the potential cost of warrantee. This is directly from the owner, Mr. Martin. The GE reflects the use of materials and constructs, i.e. no "wings" and higher grade materials. However, I think you miss the point. A novice would not know what you and I know making their understanding not delusional, but more perhaps naive.You say: "when a novice buys a new Martin D-18 and they are expecting it to sound like a pre war Martin the heard somewhere they become discouraged." But anybody who expects a new D-18 (which sells for, say, $2,000) to "sound like a pre war Martin" (that goes for, say, $15,000) is deluding him/herself. There's a reason why the GEs and Authentics sell for a significant price premium over the "basic" models.
If the offer is extended again, I will accept the offer. I have access to a 1970 D-35 that is rings like a brick. If the Tone Rite can improve the tone, I will gladly eat some crow for dinner.know that several people have offered to loan you a Tonerite so that you can do an evaluation on YOUR instruments. Obviously, you're not willing to do so. Asking people to loan you BOTH an instrument and a Tonerite seems to me to be asking for a bit much. And I have no idea what kind of "objective empirical evaluation" that you're proposing to make that differs from the (admittedly subjective) assessments that many others (such as Big Joe and I) have made.
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