ToneVector

Your tone. Our science.

ToneVector helps FB Guitars refine pickup choice and placement for the individual guitar, using the instrument, the player and the tonal goal.

What it does

Pickup placement is part of the design.

ToneVector studies relationships between string behaviour, scale geometry, tuning, harmonic behaviour, pickup characteristics and pickup position. It gives us a structured way to compare options before the final guitar specification is agreed.

For an assessed configuration, ToneVector can recommend pickup choices and placement that best fit the defined targets within the model and available hardware.

The guitarString count, scale geometry, tuning and physical layout.
The pickupsModel characteristics, layout and the usable placement region.
The playerPlaying intent, musical context and the tone being chased.
ANALYSIS EXPLAINERStrings + scale + pickup window + placementTechnical illustration that a guitarist can understand at a glance

The player matters

Genre gives context. Playing intent changes the question.

Your music style helps ToneVector compare pickup options and understand the tonal context. How you play, such as rhythm, lead or both, helps define how the string is considered during the analysis and can influence placement.

ToneVector does not simply assign a fixed “Metal position” or “Jazz position”. The recommendation belongs to the guitar and the player’s stated goals.

PLAYER CONTEXTRhythm, lead and hybrid playingPerformance image or simple pluck position illustration

ToneVector Assessment

The technical stage after your free brief.

  1. Submit the free Instrument Brief.
  2. FB Guitars reviews the proposed configuration.
  3. Proceed to the ToneVector Assessment. The assessment fee is paid before analysis begins.
  4. Review the result with us. Pickup choice and placement are incorporated into the proposed Build Specification.

If you commission the guitar, the full ToneVector Assessment Fee is credited against the final guitar price.

ASSESSMENT OUTPUTClient report or assessment summaryUse a redacted public safe example

See the full guitar journey

What it does not claim

Science supports judgement.

ToneVector does not claim to predict every part of the sound of a complete physical guitar. The player, setup, amplifier, effects, room and recording chain also affect what is heard.

Its role is more focused: analyse the relationships we can model, improve the evidence behind our choices and reduce guesswork where the analysis can contribute.

More about the analysis

ToneVector uses declared instrument and playing inputs, including string and scale information, pickup data, playing intent and musical context. Recommendations remain subject to component availability, geometry checks and human engineering review.

Technology ownership

ToneVector is proprietary technology developed by FB Guitars Ltd. Its software, reports, graphical material and original documentation are protected by applicable intellectual property law. Scientific principles and mathematical concepts remain distinct from the protected implementation.

Start with the player, then analyse the guitar.

Choose your FB Guitar and tell us how you play. The technical assessment comes after our review.