Sound hole in upper side?

pdg

This is an 11-year-old thread, but I was wondering if there've been any new thoughts or developments in the interim.

crookedpinky

I'm a fan of soundports. I have one in my Alex Bishop d hole and as it's always been there the only way I can hear the difference it makes is by covering it. To my ears there is a benefit to me as the player in that I hear a bit more of the guitar but there's another very subtle increase in volume and mid range.

I have cut soundports into 3 of my guitars and on 2 of them - an Altamira M oval hole and a 1973 Takeharu - the difference I described is there. On the 3rd guitar- an Altamira f hole - the soundport had no effect whatsoever. I suspect this may have been because of the f holes and the bracing.

Buco

Just a happy user here.

jonpowl

@Buco Do you keep your guitar in the shower?

Buco

This is from when it was drying when I was refinishing it. Sometimes I do stick it in here (steam up the shower beforehand) if I need to give it a quick humidity boost.

billyshakes

@Buco Was hoping you'd post something about yours. I think you did a great job on that. I also sometimes steam up my downstairs shower to allow the extra moisture into my adjacent practice room in the winter.

Buco

Thanks Bill. People try it and while playing I cover the soundport and they're surprised at the difference.

pdg

Buco, did the soundport cause the lowest resonance of the guitar (usually G on the 6th string for oval holes) to rise? E.g., up to G# or A? Did the tone -- to listeners -- change?

Buco

Next time I see Craig I'll ask him to measure. He did mention something along those lines when I saw him and had my guitar with me. People who were familiar with my guitar before and after, say good things about the tone, that it's better.

Buco

@pdg do you know the procedure I'm talking about? Craig was using a spl meter on his phone to map out these nodes. I could ask him.