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Post by cynical1 on Jan 29, 2009 11:29:15 GMT -5
This sounded unique... "Glasstones – Inventor/entrepreneur Mark Payung was playing slide guitar one day and began thinking about the pure sound his glass slide made on the strings. If that sounds great, what would it sound like if the strings were attached to glass?" "GlassTones owns the innovation which takes a giant step forward in the tonal quality and purification of sound produced on all stringed musical instruments.
In this patented technology, the strings are only in contact with a highly-tempered silica based compound (e.g., glass), thereby eliminating interference from other inferior materials, such as metal, and purifying the vibration of the string. The resulting sound is clear, pure, and bold with increased sustain.
Initial prototyping is focused on electric guitars, but we look forward to working with all stringed musical instruments (e.g., piano, violin, etc.).
The electric guitar produces big, clean, bold notes while maintaining the warmth and traditional feel of a classic guitar. Check out the artist reactions! Want to see it in action? Check out www.myspace.com/glasstones."There isn't much at all on the guy's website...and the Why?Space page has a few sound samples. The demo samples are the only goods ones. The others are live and not recorded to do the device any justice. Interesting concept. ...thought I'd share... Happy Trails Cynical One |
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Post by ChrisK on Jan 29, 2009 13:40:12 GMT -5
Hmm, the old sound purification rites again, eh? patented technology So the secret is to use an inferrous material? I see, so it removes all harmonics thus purifying the fundamental (it sez vibration - singular). When I was in Catholic grade school, they warned us aboot them impure vibrations (or was it those shiny patent leather shoes?). Warning: The following statement contains a term that is actually measurable. The term is "sustain". Hope springs eternal. Hmmm, this will go over big with the heavy metal gang.... Oh, you mean like actual artist reactions? I think that they have missed the really innovative concept of glass strings. This may actually be a meaningful invention. I don't know for sure. Unfortunately, they've started out with marketing sloshingfroth, so reality will be "oxygenated" at best. And remember, boys and girls, a highly-tempered silica based compound (e.g., glass) is still a liquid. (From the five states of matter - solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and marketing.) |
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Post by newey on Jan 29, 2009 15:57:28 GMT -5
No, they haven't. See Claim #11 in the patent application. They also are claiming glass bridges, glass saddles and a glass fretboard with glass frets. They have not, however, claimed a glass fretnut, so far as I could tell, but their description seems to be confusing the "saddles" with the "nut", since they are claiming a glass fretboard that supposedly stretches between the "saddles" and the "Bridge".  Notice that none of this glass contains any "resin", so they're not talking fiberglass, apparently. |
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Post by ChrisK on Jan 29, 2009 19:03:40 GMT -5
I know, I was being cynical.
They actually included the term resin" likely from the examiner pointing out that prior art was related to molded fretboards and guitars, which are resin-based in material.
Well, that's because people with glass nuts need to be extremely careful................
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Post by cynical1 on Jan 29, 2009 19:57:38 GMT -5
No, I generally don't take posted comments on a website from happy buyers as any tangible reference of quality or value. The old adage states a happy customer tells 3-5 people...and unhappy customer tells everyone... First thing I do to research, say..."XYZ Glass Nuts"...is go to Google and type in "XYZ Glass Nuts suck". If nothing comes back I assume they might be onto something. If I see a flood of hits agreeing that "XYZ Glass Nuts suck", well...
Back to the topic at hand. I can see their point, in that glass will be harder then chromed brass or aluminum. On the Mohs scale glass is about a 5.5. Hardened steel would be about 25% harder. Seems to me it would make more sense to heat treat and temper existing machined high carbon saddles and fretwire then attempt to re-invent the wheel with a glass based product.
Titanium, tungsten and even quartz have a higher hardness rating...titanium and tungsten can be machined...but it's a little tricky to machine quartz...
Like you said..the 5th state of matter...
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by newey on Jan 29, 2009 20:08:15 GMT -5
But it seems their claim is not hardness, but some sort of improved resonance/tone. My snake-oil detector is going off full blast. 
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Post by ChrisK on Jan 29, 2009 20:46:17 GMT -5
You probably wouldn't want to use this on a Tele, it might make it sound too brittle.
(Oh, come on, it was inevitable.)
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Post by cynical1 on Jan 30, 2009 2:03:44 GMT -5
But it seems their claim is not hardness, but some sort of improved resonance/tone... Back in my steel mill days, when I still had hair, there used to be a guy in the welding shop that would TIG weld tuning forks out of small square lathe tool stock. They were quite impressive. Granted, this didn't thrill the machinists much... If they're barking some unique voodoo resonance with glass versus metal I ain't convinced...although it would take beer stains much better... Happy Trails Cynical One |
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Post by andy on Jan 30, 2009 9:32:40 GMT -5
Just don't be typing those words into a company computer.
I have to assume that the sound that is being discussed here is clearer, purer, bolder, and with even more sustain than all the classic guitar tones produced with those old-fangled plastic and metal parts. Which will shortly be obsolete, I'd imagine.
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Post by cynical1 on Jan 30, 2009 11:39:09 GMT -5
Ok, I say we "one up" this design. He's using glass. A hard and stable material once properly processed. A 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale...respectable. Fine. Based on hardness a diamond is a 10 on a Mohs scale. The hardest material known to man. However, because it is not processed by man there are certain inclusions and carbon spot within them that would make them unpredictable in their tonal quality. Plus, the cost makes Keith Richard and Rupert Murdock your only clients. Enter the cubic zirconia.  It has a hardness between 8.5 and 9 on a Mohs scale. Because they are man made they are virtually flawless...translating into consistent tonal quality. They can be manufactured into any shape, size or color. And they are cheap. Ask any woman who's received one as a gift on her anniversary... Commonly referred to a "paste" in the trade...costume jewelry to the unsuspecting public... Pawn shops are a reliable local source for raw materials... Go one step further and facet the bridge saddles and frets. Minimum contact with the strings would dampen them less...even more marketable su$tain... For the nut...custom faceted insets cut to your exact string gauge. Change strings...no problem...pull the old insert and drop in the new one...or forget the nut and use one as a zero fret... Take it another step further and build an entire Telecaster with this set-up. Paint it metallic gold and call it the Rhinestone Cowboy...it'll sell a million... Happy Trails Cynical One |
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Post by D2o on Jan 30, 2009 11:53:33 GMT -5
And a step further still ... coincidentally, this is actually available now.  |
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Post by cynical1 on Jan 30, 2009 15:29:55 GMT -5
And a step further still ... coincidentally, this is actually available now. And as a bonus...once you install Option B, you miraculously find yourself in some third world toilet...eating MRE's...not the least bit concerned about your tone... Happy Trails Cynical One |
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Post by newey on Jan 30, 2009 20:10:07 GMT -5
And the scraps left over after cutting the parts can adorn your white jumpsuit.  |
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Post by ChrisK on Jan 30, 2009 20:53:10 GMT -5
Industrial diamonds are man-made.
I know a guy with a PhD in materials engineering, who specialized in zirconium and its applications to reactor fuel rods (my father and my uncle spent their careers helping pioneer the nuclear industry).
Coincidently, I was sitting and talking with him this morning. Next time I see him, I'll have a discussion regarding the tonal qualities therein.
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