ToneShaper

[Randy]

Has anyone tried this yet?

http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/TONESHAPER_C218.cfm

I'm wondering how well the volume & tone controls work. I really like using both, but I'm not sure if those found on this device would be very responsive.

Thanks!

~Randy

[scooteraz]

I haven't tried one, but it is only a bunch of switches to provide different cap values and wiring arrangements to the circuit. The caps may be physically smaller, but guitar circuits are very small signals and don't require much in any event. The pots are identical to any other pot that Acme sells (except for terminal style) and would, therefore be no less (or more) responsive than any other circuit.

As they say in their ad, it is for those of us who are "...reading other people's opinions on Harmony Central and then agonizing over how to configure your prewired assembly, now you can try different settings using your guitar, your gear, your hands, and your ears, until you arrive at the configuration that gives you what you want to hear. In six months, when you decide that the grass is greener on the other side, you can start all over again and chase your tail some more. It's a neurosis, and we understand." If that describes you, then this is your product and don't worry about how responsive the pots are.:yeah:

BTW, I have found Acme to be good people in the past.

[Strat-tastic]

From the looks of it, you have to have it off the guitar to make any adjustments. Put it back, restring, play, hmm not the sound I am looking for, unstring, take it off, play with the switches, put it back, restring, play, hmm not the sound I am looking for, unstring, I wonder what that other switch does, put it back, restring, play, hmm not the sound I am looking for, unstring.....

Doesn't sound like a tone-shaping gadget I'd like to play with.

Or am I missing something... :dunno:

[scooteraz]

From the looks of it, you have to have it off the guitar to make any adjustments. Put it back, restring, play, hmm not the sound I am looking for, unstring, take it off, play with the switches, put it back, restring, play, hmm not the sound I am looking for, unstring, I wonder what that other switch does, put it back, restring, play, hmm not the sound I am looking for, unstring.....

Doesn't sound like a tone-shaping gadget I'd like to play with.

Or am I missing something... :dunno:

No, you're not missing anything. I think that they put the DIP switches inside, because putting them on the cover wouldn't look so great. I guess if you were to make a guitar designed for this, you would route through to the back and leave it open. Or maybe put on some sort of quick release cover. It is not designed for on the fly adjustments, but rather to find a specific electronic setup that you like, and leave it there, then play with setups again some time later.

[Strat-tastic]

OK anyone fancy setting one up for me? One can of tactical bacon up for grabs :)

[Randy]

" ...It's a neurosis, and we understand."
That fits me to a tee.

Yeah, the more I think about it the more I like the idea... changing strings on a Fender, not a problem- can do it while asleep, in the blink of an eye. Changing them on a Gibson is more frustrating- for me... thankfully thats neither here nor there :)

I think I'll try this out on my '54 Strat ri, and simply add several packs of strings to my Sweetwater order once I settle on a microphone for the amp. (but thats a different topic / post)

More to come...

~Randy