Buc McMaster Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 In one of these threads here recently there was talk of torrified tops and someone made note that perhaps the process contributed to the stability of the wood. As possible evidence of this, I have noticed that since I changed the strings on my torrified-topped Hummingbird two weeks ago I have not had to retune the guitar at all. Within a few hours the strings settled and stayed.......not had to tweak the tuning, not once. This certainly indicates good stability in the tuning bed of the instrument which may or may not be attributable to the baked top. Anyone else with a cooked guitar have similar observations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Did you change brand of strings buc? Just playing devils advocate . It's not very often I have to tune either of mine Maybe a slight tweak but elixir strings I've noticed stay in tune better than any others I've tried But then we don't know which of the many factors involved are what's actually changing things and which are placebos I'm not arguing here , and don't have a fortified top. So am not qualified to speak really . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Quite Possible. I know my banner 43' LG-2 rarely needs to be retuned. Only after there has been massive changes in humidity, but even then just minor tweaks. That guitar is rock solid in all respects, and doesnt even have a trust rod ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I agree with bbg, I very rarely have to more than tweak tune any of my guitars. The one that I have with the torrified top doesn't seem to be any different than the ones without. And, again like bbg, I use Elixirs on all my acoustics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe M Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Sorry, double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Interesting thought - hmm, think I tend to tune my vintage guitars less than the contemporaries, , , , now that you mention it. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted August 23, 2016 Author Share Posted August 23, 2016 Ah ha! So if vintage, aged top guitars are inherently more stable than newer versions, then the torrification process may well be a factor in artificially aging an instruments' tone.....and stability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Aside from what I've read in guitar forums and the experience of playing one guitar with a torrified top, I have no idea on the strength of the guitar's top, etc. If the humidity levels are consistent, I have guitars that stay in-tune for weeks just hanging on the wall. I imagine we've all had guitars in a case for a couple months, then you take them out to tune and play and find they are literally "right on the mark" as far as tuning goes. I think the terrified tops are very interesting as another possible attribute a guitar might have. Are they better sounding, stronger, more flexible, and so on, I don't know. Almost everything about a guitar is pretty subjective. If we like it, it's a great guitar (I've even got a couple of "great" cheap guitars). If we don't like it, it's not great, regardless of the brand name or cost. From what I've heard of Buc's Hummingbird, I'd say it was "a keeper." You find good ones and bad ones and mediocre ones. Then, every-now-and-then you find a great one that becomes part of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 I think increased tuning stability on a VTS guitar makes sense. If this process makes the top less prone to adding/subtracting moisture as the humidity changes, increased stability should be a logical consequence. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 uhm not sure, jury still out I suppose. example 1, my '16 SJ200. not torrified, yet rarely needs to be tuned, and I always check, and I play this one EVERY DAY.,, whether it needs it or not.. example 2, my '05 taylor GS... honestly this thing has been neglected, sitting in it's case for months. I've probably touched it 2 or 3 times since I bought the SJ200. I took it out for some air this weekend,, I grabbed my (new and coolish) Snark tuner on it, and dang if that sucker wasn't still in tune. I changed the strings (that one has Elixr nano PB always) just a few days before I let it hibernate... speaking of strings... (no, I am not starting another string thread!) I went back to Masterbuilts Premiums on my SJ200 (from Nanoweb PBs) lights,, 12 gauge.. conclusion: those really are a better choice of string set for that guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58 Relic Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Been thinking about this , if a guitar is well made, well set up and constructed out of well seasoned wood it's stability should be spot on , leaving humidity and weather aside. The neck stability would affect the need for retuning as well as the top . My acoustics when played around the house rarely need retuning .Just a thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gfa Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Even my Carbon Fiber Rainsong needs tuning on a regular basis, including within a playing session. Guitar construction aside, the strings are metal, and they expand and contract with temperature changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 How did all of our reasonably well made guitars stay in tune all these decades without Torrified tops??? rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted August 24, 2016 Author Share Posted August 24, 2016 I was just thinking out loud, folks. Not saying it's a proven concept at all.......just something I've noticed about this particular guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Hey pal , don't think for a minute I'm arguing . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Yeah, that "Buc" guy is always coming-up with these provocative topics, ain't he? He's always throwing hand grenades around the place. Don't forget, he's the guy who posted those pictures of fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Hmm, well, a torrefied top has less moisture inside of it, and it does far less "breathing" (i.e. taking in and putting out of moisture), so I suppose that means it is inherently more stable. Whether that contributes to stable tuning, I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buc McMaster Posted August 25, 2016 Author Share Posted August 25, 2016 He's always throwing hand grenades around the place. Ha! Yep - better keep your head down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 How did all of our reasonably well made guitars stay in tune all these decades without Torrified tops??? rct I'm not sure, but I like your question a lot! For now, I'm taking care not to speak of the matter within earshot of my well-behaved, non-torrified guitars lest they sink into a state of untuned and rebellious chaos. The horror - the horror.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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