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Location: Snåsa, Norway | As somone pointed out the thread on "Dull sound after rest" the sound of a guitar played acoustic is better in front than from the players position. I believe I've read somewhere that some luthiers experiment with soundholes in the upper bout of the guitar to let the player get a better impression of the sound. Have anyone seen or tried guitars with such soundholes? |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | At last year's Tour, Bauerhillboy brought an O where he had cut a sound hole in the top for exactly that reason. I played it and definitely heard a difference. |
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Location: NJ | i played an archtop that Linda Manzer built for Scot Chinery that had one of those, it was interesting because you actually got the sound of the guitar to your ears. Not practical for projection of the instrument though. |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | I was wondering that, Al. With the added benefit to the player, how much did the projection suffer? I would have to think significantly, no? |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | I had tried the Gibson traveling songwriter where the soundhole is located in the back at the local GC. It sounds very weak unplugged, but it's interesting enough that I could actually hear the sound with my ears. I think it benefits the player, especially for practice purposes, without disturbing others. To be able to be heard, however, it needs to be plugged in. Despite the thin body, I think it lives up to the hype, but am not quite so sure if the 2k-plus price tag is justifiable. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | My custom made 12 string 12 fret slothead has the side sound ports. IMHO, it allows me to get a truer representation of the sound of the guitar.
Pics in my gallery. |
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Location: Snåsa, Norway | Originally posted by stephent28:
Pics in my gallery. ... and exactly where is your gallery |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The gallery either be in his house, or, in the members access area?
I've played them, and it does make it easier to hear as a player, but how it affects the sound for the audience, I dunno. |
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Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | I've read on another board, that Ovations are particularly noted for projecting out from the player. I don't know if they're just bashing Ovations, but, my O's sound much better, when I listen across from the player. Wooden box guitars do project a bit more to the player. That being said, awhile back I recommended on a post that anyone trying out a new O, bring a friend to demonstrate the guitar's sound, while sitting across from the guitar. You'd be surprised at the sound difference. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | HobbyPicker,
If you have never been to the members galleries in the "member access" section, you are really missing out on a treat.
Some of our member collections are truly amazing and they are all on display. Go enter at the green bar and the left and be prepared to spend a few enjoyable hours. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Even with #47, if I tilt it up towards me and play it makes a big difference in what I hear. Of course it makes it a "tad" more difficult to play.
On another note - has anyone ever heard of an acoustic using something like the Bose waveguide technology? Is that even possible? |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | It's been hypothocized that Ovations sound better "out in front" to a listener than they do to the player. My wooden guitars tend to sound better to my own ears from the players position. I've had people listen to me play two guitars and tell me which one they prefer,and I think "What are you, f'ing nuts?" But I suspect that from their position out in front and my position playing the guitar we are hearing 2 different things. As someone who plays 95% of the time just for my own pleasure the sound from the players position is most important to me.
Dave |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by Tupperware:
As someone who plays 95% of the time just for my own pleasure the sound from the players position is most important to me.
Dave EXACTLY! |
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Posts: 97
Location: Chicago | I've noticed the same thing, which is why I try to practice in front of a wall to have the sound project back to my ears. It is remarkable to move around while playing: you will hear deadness at times and a rich, hear-from-the-front sound at other times, just depending on where you project the sound!
Take off the back plate of the guitar, and you will get a better idea of the projected sound, but it's going to kill your overall volume (and you lose some tonal quality). |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I've recently developed a working prototype device constructed from a toilet plunger and a set of old DC10 passenger headsets. The plunger has been modified to fit into the soundhole and the headset attached to allow the player to clearly hear the guitar. It's a completely passive system requiring no electric/tronics.
I'm calling it the Steth-O-Scope
(It also fits the rear access hole on multi-hole models) |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Without string tubes it will never sell! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I'm currently working out a deal with Witkowski Distribution, a SubDivision of StandingO Industries, a wholly owned Subsidiary of Tupperware Inc. |
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Location: big island | Originally posted by CrimsonLake:
Even with #47, if I tilt it up towards me and play it makes a big difference in what I hear. Of course it makes it a "tad" more difficult to play.
On another note - has anyone ever heard of an acoustic using something like the Bose waveguide technology? Is that even possible? I believe it is luthier, Steve Klein, who has done some experimenting with internal baffling similar to Amar Bose's acoustic wave technology. I think I saw one of those units for sale by Paul Huemiller at Dream Guitars not long ago. And I perceive it is probably more user friendly than the proto-type model Jeff W. is touting. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by Tupperware:
As someone who plays 95% of the time just for my own pleasure the sound from the players position is most important to me.
. . . which may likely be the reason why I prefer to play plugged in. |
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Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | OK...I just caught up with this conversation. I'm quite sure I'm the only one here who has soundports in the bass shoulder of their Ovation and I can tell you without a doubt it works! It doesn't have any negative effect on projection toward the audience, either.
I've experimented with different set-ups, and ultimately settled on Air-Locks in the treble soundholes.
If someone knows how to put pics into this thread I'll email a picture to you.
John <>{ |
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Location: SoCal | John, you can email the picture to me, or we can guide you through it. Aren't there instructions in the FAQ thread? |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I may have the worst "practice technique". I spend a fair amount of time playing the guitar in and old worn out lazy boy kicked back. The guitar sounds great to me pointed up at the fairly low ceiling. I play for my self almost 100% of the time--for good reason. No one else wants to listen. |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Jeff W.:
I've recently developed a working prototype device constructed from a toilet plunger and a set of old DC10 passenger headsets. The plunger has been modified to fit into the soundhole and the headset attached to allow the player to clearly hear the guitar. It's a completely passive system requiring no electric/tronics.
I'm calling it the Steth-O-Scope
(It also fits the rear access hole on multi-hole models) how about two tin cans and some string...... |
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March 2003
Posts: 555
Location: Wooster, Ohio | I was at the Columbus guitar show last year and a Ohio luthier had most of his guitar with a added small sound hole in the side for the player to hear. Is does work, but a guitar show is nowhere to really test the overall sound. I tend to play with a small amp which projects the sound to me.
Steve |
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Location: texas | if you were to drill a hole would it have to be close tothe neck and would that affect the structural integreity of the guitar just wondering |
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Soundhole in the guitar side?
