I'm curious if any of you have experience with guitar woods "opening up" or "settling in." I've had an archtop for about 2 years now, and played it daily the last year or so. It seems as though almost overnight the guitar all of a sudden smoothed out. To my ear, and my wife's, the guitar's tone changed fairly noticeably. Its not as bright as it was, and everything just seems more balanced. The guitar top is Maple.
Has anyone had this experience?
I've heard that hollowbody will sound better after the wood has vibrated after so many hours of playing. I have heard of people laying a radio on top of a hollowbody and wrapping it in a blanket and leaving it to vibrate for a week straight.
I believe it has something to do with the fibers/voids in the wood settling?
I know my hollowbodys will vibrate if you can if certain ambient noise is loud enough. Speakers, talking, other amps. I also think this changes the tone slightly.