Featured Sponsors
ToneFRĒQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: Will ToneFRĒQ ™ work with electric and acoustic guitars?
A: Yes. Users of electric and elecro-acoustic guitars (acoustic guitars with some type of pickup system installed) will experience benefits from using ToneFRĒQ.
Q: Are there any guitars that are not suitable for use with ToneFRĒQ?
A: As long as your guitar has at least 1 pickup you can use ToneFRĒQ. Certain guitars with active electronics may not experience all of the benefits of the Ignition feature that passive electronics guitars do.
Q: I play Bass. Will ToneFRĒQ work for me?
A: ToneFRĒQ Jr. is the product for you. The Resonance settings of the original ToneFRĒQ are specifically voiced for guitar pickups. That being said, bass players can still take advantage of the Ignition and Throttle features in both ToneFRĒQ models.
Q: Can I use ToneFRĒQ on my pedal board instead of attaching it to my guitar strap?
A: ToneFRĒQ’s unique design corrects and optimizes instrument signal at the guitar level. While you CAN use ToneFRĒQ in your pedal board, doing so will place ToneFRĒQ in a position of your signal chain that is not optimal. Having a longer cable between your guitar and the ToneFRĒQ input will allow your guitar signal to degrade before it reaches ToneFRĒQ. Having ToneFRĒQ located at your pedalboard will result in improved tone. Your best results will be had when using ToneFRĒQ on your guitar strap though.
Q: What is the maximum length cable that you recommend using to connect my guitar to the ToneFRĒQ Input?
A: We STRONGLY recommend that you use a high quality cable that is no more than 3 feet in length to conect your guitar to ToneFRĒQ. This will minimize the additional capacitance that you are introducing to your signal before it reaches ToneFRĒQ.
Q: I’ve heard that buffer amplifiers don’t sound great when placed in front of wah pedals or fuzz boxes. Can ToneFRĒQ be placed first in the signal chain before these devices?
A: Our unique design overcomes this problem. We have tested numerous wah and fuzz boxes with ToneFRĒQ and we can assure you that the results are excellent.
Q: Can ToneFRĒQ be used as a Direct Box (DI)?
A: Yes. ToneFRĒQ is a world class DI that is ideal for both input into an amplifier or direct into a console.
Q: What are the differences between ToneFRĒQ Jr and the Original ToneFRĒQ?
A: ToneFRĒQ Jr. does not include the Resonance feature of the original ToneFRĒQ model and has a somewhat smaller enclosure. The original ToneFRĒQ Resonance feature is specifically voiced for guitars. While this feature is very useful for guitarists who want to tune the resonant peak of their pickups, bass players really couldn’t take advantage of it. As a result, this feature was largely unused for bass players. ToneFRĒQ Jr. features the same quality at a lower price point. ToneFRĒQ Jr. is suited for guitar and bass
ToneFRĒQ
ToneFRĒQ
Review 12/24/2008 ToneFRĒQ
Variances in manufacturing such as the number of pickup windings, the use of imperfect metals and other materials, scale length, string gauge, electronics and your individual playing style all are factors in shaping your sound. While a guitar manufacturer can build a specific guitar model, it’s not possible to fully account for each of these factors during the building process. That’s why no two guitars sound exactly the same. It’s also why there’s a lot more luck than reason involved with finding the best sounding guitars. Install the same pickup in different guitars, even ones made of the same materials, and none of them will truly sound the same. Why? The reason is that every guitar has its own unique electro-mechanical resonant frequency signature.
The electro-mechanical resonant frequency of a guitar is determined by a multitude of factors that are difficult to control. Guitar manufacturers can’t afford to take the time to account for all of these factors in their design and manufacturing processes. The pickups, electronics wiring and cables you use are among some of the major factors that determine how good your guitar can sound. ToneFRĒQ ™ accounts for these factors, optimizing your signal and allowing your guitar to sound significantly better than was previously possible. It’s like having a team of engineers tweak your guitar rig making it sound the best that it can. The result is greatly enhanced tone!
For the purpose of this review Tweak Head Technology sent AMG their revolutionary ToneFRĒQ , without any hooplah or hesitation. This kind of confidence is usually present when a company has a seriously good product and will jump at the oportunity to tell the world about it, or they are hard up. Well the former is the tale here and it's a tale of truth.
Using an 18 ft. Accusound Silver Studio Pro instrument cable is sort of cheating a bit because it's a high end professional quality cable, but that's the kind of cable serious musician’s use and what AMG wanted to do was tweak the signal and this cable can only help. Tweak away AMG did and what a fun review this has been because of all the tweaking ability packed into this light and good looking little box called a ToneFRĒQ .
AMG tested every setting, listening for any variations in tone. No need to squint your eyes to get your ears to hear the differences in tone you can achieve with the TonFREQ. One of the coolest things about the ToneFREQ is in regards to the ToneFRĒQ Throttle - a completely variable 18 dB gain boost that really comes in handy. Turn it down all the way to completely defeat it. Turn it up to boost a low output guitar or bass pickup signal or to take that lead you actually want people to hear. Throttle can be used to make your amplifier overdrive at lower volumes, producing amazing sweet spot tones. ToneFRĒQ’s mission is to provide your amp, modeler or effects with the best possible signal from your instrument. Tone connoisseurs know how important it is to hit that first stage of your amplifier with just the right amount of gain. Throttle lets you do just that.
ToneFRĒQ has a true mechanical bypass feature that allows you to listen to your unaltered guitar tone with the turn of a knob. With Ignition engaged you'll experience a significant improvement in your sound.
The ToneFRĒQ does everything the manufacturer claims it can do and does so to the exact specifications claimed on their web site. The company is easy to deal with and backs up their product with a 6 month limited warranty. That's plenty of time to put this bad boy through the paces.
After using it you feel naked without it. There are many more features to this amazing or reveolutionary technology. Be sure to visit http://www.tweakheadtehnology.com to get all the details and to listen to various sound clips!
Specifications
Weight: 8 oz
Input: 1/4” TS
Output: 1/4” TS
Output Gain: Variable Up To +18 dB
True Bypass: Yes. On/Off
Harmonic Resonance Settings: 6 (5 plus native)
Power Source: 9-volt battery (included)
About Tweak Head Technology
Tweak Head Technology was founded by John D'Orto and Scott Glorioso in 2005 and based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts USA, is a manufacturer of instrument signal enhancement products and accessories for musicians. D'Orto and Glorioso met while working at pro A/V pioneer Avid Technology. The two were part of a seminal group of engineers that jointly developed numerous professional Video and Audio editing products that revolutionized the industry. Both founders are established guitarists and accomplished recording engineers with ‘near-golden’ ears and many production credits.
D’Orto, an avid guitar collector and self-proclaimed tone freak, has always sought new ways of improving his guitar sound. Glorioso, who after building and tweaking his own fuzz box designs as a teen was inspired to follow a career in Electrical Engineering. After years of developing hi-tech products for large corporations, one evening, friends John and Scott sat down and decided, it was time to combine their talents to create a company of their own based on their shared passion for audio and guitars.
John observed on many occasions tone loss, as his extensive classic signal chain grew and how dramatically differently each guitar was affected (tone suck). What exactly was happening and could the full tone somehow be restored without modifying guitars? Intrigued by the challenge, Scott built a prototype intended to be located as close as possible to the pickups to negate the various signal degradation John was observing. Upon first plugging it in, John was blown away and knew THIS was to be the basis for their flagship product. The two immediately founded THT and began rapidly testing design variations including handpicking the best sounding parts by utilizing double blind A/B testing.
A 6 month beta program followed soliciting elite player feedback resulting in further design refinements and enhancements and thus ToneFRĒQ was born and made available to the public in late 2006.
http://www.tweakheadtechnology.com/ToneFREQ1.html