My first soundport

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My first soundport

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cRobson12

Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010

My first soundport

I made my first soundport today using a drill and a dremel. I used the drill to make a very tiny hole for the dremel than cut out the basic shape with the dremel and sanded it. I still need to touch it up a little.
The circle looks a bit off in the picture but its looks much more even in person.

sorry about the quality I am at school right now so I had to upload with my phone

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 17:14:02

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

congrats! looks good!
did you do anything to brace the insides?

let us know if you can hear a difference!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 17:17:10

cRobson12

Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010

RE: My first soundport (in reply to at_leo_87)

Thanks man.

I cut tiny pieces of cedar and glued them on each side of the hole.

I can definitly hear a difference, its a bit louder and much different in sound, its hard to explain. Its not "IN YOUR FACE" change, but its not a small change, you know what I mean? :P When I cover the soundport the guitar sounds less profound.

I love it

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 17:21:22

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

quote:

ORIGINAL: cRobson12
I love it

welcome to the club.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 17:22:52

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

i know exactly what you mean!

here's a test i did awhile ago.
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=114322&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=sound%2Cport%2Ctest&tmode=&smode=&s=#114322

there's more of a bass presence.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 19:11:05

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

Don't let a bunch of horny pervs stick their fingers in there. When I made the first one about 5 years ago all these guys wanted to do was stick fat dirty fingers in there. Disgusting.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 19:26:56

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

I thought a lot about these soundholes. And I came to the conclusion that these holes are not good for your playing. They make you play weaker coz you hear yourself louder. If you just play for yourself, it should be ok. But if you play for audience, I think its better to practice also without a hole there.
Well, I made not much experience with soundholes. I could be wrong. Tell me that Im wrong, if I am please.
Anyway,.. its nothing for me.. though..

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 20:03:55

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

looking nice man .. I think you did a nice job over there ..
I haven't tried messing around with these sound ports ..
which do u prefer .. ur guitar before diggin a hole in it or after?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 20:09:05

cRobson12

Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010

RE: My first soundport (in reply to Elie)

Those tests are really cool Anthony, once you go side soundport you can never go back

@Estebanana -

Doitsujin, I never really thought of it that way. But the increase in volume is only about 4 decibels, which really isn't that much if you think about it. I like the bases much more on my guitar now, they sound more beafy and less classical.

DarkElieDraven, I am digging my guitar much more with the hole in it. Its looks cool too. Here are some decent quality pictures of it. I definitely recommend you get one if the guitar isn't too expensive

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 20:31:41

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

Does it also increase the decibel to the front? Or only to the direction of the sound hole ?

Well,.. maybe when you played it for a while you can tell us if it makes you playing weaker or not. I would like to know that.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 20:44:00

cRobson12

Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010

RE: My first soundport (in reply to Doitsujin)

The test that I saw was increase decibel from the front. The test from the back of of the soundport only had a small increase of about 1 or 2.

I will keep you informed if it does, I generally play heavier that most people though

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 20:45:52

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: My first soundport (in reply to XXX)

quote:

welcome to the club

We should get T-shirts printed saying "I'm in the SP Club"...

That would get a lot of the casual bastards jogging in the park wondering...

No seriously....

I find I can monitor what I'm playing MUCH better using a mic and a pair of headphones.

A soundport would be great for a "hobby" guitarist like myself..

The trouble with the guitar is that everything comes out the front and can sound pretty much different to what you are hearing as you play it...

(Well...I suppose that's the trouble with most instruments actually...

)

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 21:01:56

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: My first soundport (in reply to Doitsujin)

quote:

Well, I made not much experience with soundholes. I could be wrong. Tell me that Im wrong, if I am please.

Doit.... You´re wrong...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 21:09:33

cRobson12

Posts: 288
Joined: Dec. 8 2010

RE: My first soundport (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 21:10:14

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: My first soundport (in reply to Doitsujin)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Doitsujin
They make you play weaker coz you hear yourself louder.

Lets ask Jason this question

if i ever need another guitar, first thing i will do is drill a hole in it.
a life without soundport is not a life... its just a poor existence... deprived of all the fun... barely tolerable.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 21:42:46

yourwhathurts69

Posts: 117
Joined: Sep. 16 2009

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

quote:

But the increase in volume is only about 4 decibels, which really isn't that much if you think about it.

4 dB?? That's over twice as powerful!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 8 2011 23:29:42

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

I've been using a sound port for five years .........wait ....huh? What's that you say? Can you speak louder please?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 0:57:19

estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: My first soundport (in reply to Ron.M)

quote:

We should get T-shirts printed saying "I'm in the SP Club"...

What is the SP club? Some kind of dogging league or organization? Are you the founder Ron?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 0:59:23

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: My first soundport (in reply to estebanana)

Doit I understand why you would rationalize it like that and come to that conclusion in principal... but in reality its not so...if anything...u play louder cause you enjoy the sound a little more, you are a little more confident in the sound...and whatever guitar u have, however good or bad u do enjoy it a little more

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 14:03:09

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: My first soundport (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

What is the SP club? Some kind of dogging league or organization? Are you the founder Ron?

No, estebanana...

I'm not allowed to wear one yet, being still an SPV. (Sound-Port Virgin).

cheers,

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 15:32:17

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

Thank you guys for the answers. I appreciate that very much.

Yeah, Florian, I agree with you. I play 99% just for myself and if the soundport helps me enjoying my playing more it would give so much joy to my heart. I also trust Anders, coz his knowledge about guitars is light years ahead of mine. I find soundports quite interesting. Such a little thing that has such a tremendous effect...
I would also consider buying one of these holes. The only things that stand against it are,. somebody would dig a hole in my perfect guitars that have no scratches at all... And,.. I still don´t really know if my techniques become weaker coz of the better response from the guitar. Im still undecided.. but constantly thinking about it.

Deniz..I also had Jason in my mind when I wrote my thoughts.. And I wondered why he has a sound port.. His techniques are pretty strong.. Im sure he doenst need more volume. By the way,.I think the guitars he plays all have too low action. Well,.. but it doesn´t matter for a player with such great techniques.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 18:36:57

XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005

RE: My first soundport (in reply to Doitsujin)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Doitsujin
Deniz..I also had Jason in my mind when I wrote my thoughts.. And I wondered why he has a sound port.. His techniques are pretty strong.. Im sure he doenst need more volume.

Its not so much about volume, its a more lively/vibrant sound.
Yes his techniques are strong, but due to the soundport he will have no more technique left soon

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 19:50:50

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: My first soundport (in reply to XXX)

quote:

Its not so much about volume, its a more lively/vibrant sound.

exactly. there is a bit of volume increase. but it's more about presence/tone. same thing as standing in front of a speaker versus to the side of it.

but if you don't plan to keep your guitar forever, you may not want to drill a hole into it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 20:08:10

Kevin James Shanahan

Posts: 407
Joined: Oct. 10 2010
From: Wooli, NSW Australia

RE: My first soundport (in reply to cRobson12)

does the shape or size of the hole make any difference , how do you decide how big the hole is . I would like a sound port in the shape of a fish is this ridiculous.

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Peace.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2011 20:57:50