Sound Hole
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Sound Hole
The Sound Hole and its Influence on the Sound
The guitar has arrived. It feels light as a feather and perfectly setup! Many thanks, a wonderful sound...
I played the new guitar today for the first time and I am very pleased in every way. Thank you again for your good work. I will be happy to recommend your workshop to anyone, anytime.
... the bass keeps on inspiring. Wednesday at rehearsal a player who didn't know it yet kept looking at me in amazement. Afterwards I found out that she was totally enthusiastic about this great new sound in the orchestra (and as I said, we always had a double bass guitar, but nothing like this one).
This is still a great job. I play it every day over all registers so that the Spruce top can open up its full range of tonal variety, and I think it is getting better and better.
... thank you so much for the excellent work on the custom job. Since I picked up the guitar last week, I have been able to work intensively on it. The playability is excellent ... Intonation is also decent, a special piece ... I very much hope that more musicians will be enthusiastic about this instrument.
The guitar has arrived. It feels light as a feather and perfectly setup! Many thanks, a wonderful sound...
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Home Blog Lutherie The Sound Hole and its Influence on the Sound
The soundhole is where the sound emerges. In a nutshell, this statement sums it up, but as always in lutherie, the soundhole is one of many components that influence sound development. Therefore, the size, position, and a few other features of the soundhole should be considered carefully.
Recently we had a customer who reached into the sound hole and inspected the soundboard with his thumb and forefinger. Afterwards, he said, "It's pretty thick, that top," but he was wrong. What the customer actually felt was the reinforcement that is glued around the sound hole to the underside of the top.
How is sound actually created in a guitar? It may appear strange, but actually the guitar body is an air pump. Stimulated by the plucking of the string(s), the soundboard is set into an up-and-down oscillation. This causes the air in the body to move and exit the sound hole. You can feel this draft when you hold your hand over the sound hole of a guitar. The goal of the guitar maker is to shape the tone by influencing this vibration. The top bracing is one of the main influencing factors, but a poorly designed soundhole can negate the effect of the best bracing.
The sound hole regulates the compensation of pressure, and here we are back to our customer's comment. If the sound hole were not reinforced from the inside, the area around the hole would be as flexible as the rest of the top. But what is desired for the soundboard, namely to resonate and if possible at the slightest touch of the strings, is counterproductive for the soundhole.
The sound hole must be stiff. For this reason, reinforcements are glued either on both sides or around the entire sound hole. After all, the sound should leave the body with pressure and be carried as far as possible into the room. If the top area around the sound hole could also vibrate, it would then eliminate part of the pressure.
The luthier's precise idea of the desired sound is very helpful, because the size of the sound hole depends on it, among other things. A smaller sound hole helps the projection of basses, while a larger sound hole makes the tone more open and rich in treble.
The center of the sound hole on classical guitars is at 1/4 of the scale length. Here, too, the tone can be influenced. Slight deviations to the front or back change the tone color.
On steel-string guitars, the sound hole is chosen to be larger in proportion to the body. However, the relationship between sound hole and body size is the same as for classical guitars.
The "classic" soundhole of an acoustic guitar is usually circular, although the so-called Gypsy guitars (Selmer/Macaferri) regularly deviate from this with an oval or D-shaped soundhole. This is caused on one hand by the tradition and on the other hand by the sound requirements of these models which differ strongly from the conventional acoustic guitars.
For the sake of completeness, the F-holes on jazz guitars should also be mentioned. However, the construction of these guitars differs so much from conventional acoustic guitars that a closer look would go beyond the scope of this article.
For a considerable time now, guitar makers have also been experimenting with the shape of the sound hole. The rule is that anything that creates air friction and can flutter is detrimental to sound transmission. A jagged sound hole would be an extreme example of unfavorable design.
Moderate, well thought-out changes in shape with appropriate stabilisation on the underside can give the acoustic guitar a very individual touch and have a high recognition factor.
From a purely static point of view, the position of the sound hole in the horizontal center of the soundboard is not optimal. To ensure its stability, it must be supported by a large number of braces.
By taking the sound hole position off center, the statics are stabilised and the luthier can save quite a bit of bracing. A lateral sound hole also has a positive effect on the vibrating surface, as it increases it.
The shifting of the sound hole to the side of the top is not without consequences for the sound. This is particularly noticeable on classical guitars, which require a concise separation of the individual registers.
The positioning of the sound hole on the side is still in an experimental stage. The fact that guitar makers are taking the trouble to find new ways to further optimise the sound by moving the sound hole speaks to the vitality of our craft, but at this point in time it is not yet possible to establish any universally valid rules about size, shape or position.
Another variation is to move the sound hole to the side of the guitar or to build a side sound hole in addition to the "normal" one.
With the depicted Bass Ukulele the hole was completely moved to the side to achieve a bigger resonating top area.
Additional side sound holes can serve as a monitor for the guitar player and improve the overall sound. These side soundholes may be a combination of several tiny holes or just one irregularly or regularly sized hole.
However, the guitar builder must be careful with the size and shape of the sound holes and adjust the bracing accordingly, otherwise these changes could quickly lead to the opposite of what they were originally intended to achieve.
I've been playing a Taylor AB4 acoustic bass for 21 years and your 6 string is so much better sounding, looking, and better built. I'm really impressed. Thanks for building such a beautiful bass. I'm looking forward to growing old with it.
It has now been two weeks since I visited you, and I've had plenty of time to explore the guitar.
Playing it is wonderful. The sound is just the way I like it, bright and clear.
In addition, it has a beautiful, noble look with a rosette that changes depending on the light, the sight alone is a pleasure.
Once again, many thanks.
The guitar arrived today and I am totally enthusiastic and satisfied. Thanks for the great instrument and see you next time! :)
I equipped the PT 69 with a new set of strings. I decided to use a set of 12 Thomastik Jazz Swing Flat Wound.
The interaction of your brilliant sounding guitar with the smooth sound of the flat strings results in a combination that inspires me tonally. Definitely give it a try.
The guitar arrived today...and it is a real dream. So powerful and delicate and long lasting melodious sound. I enjoy playing it very much. Beautiful.
Many, many thanks. I am very happy and grateful to have acquired your last 63 Primera.
I would like to thank you and your former apprentice very much for the guitar.
The guitar has a very good playability, optimal saddle width and string action.
Furthermore, the frets have exactly the right dimensions and size. This is very important.
I also really like the sound very much.
Nice bright, but not too bright either. Just right.
The guitar is truly a masterpiece.
It gives me a lot of pleasure!
Yesterday I could finally get my guitar - and I am thrilled!
Thank you for your craftsmanship, which absolutely deserves this title! Simply wonderful, how the grain of the wood comes through everywhere.
The guitar sounds simply great and no problems with the allergy, so I am very satisfied :) Thanks again for the great guitar!
... I wanted to let you know that I am now very happy with my IQ. It has become clear, and still does, that it is a wonderful instrument, sounds really unbelievably beautiful, and also meets high standards.
... wanted to send you a photo of me and your still wonderful guitar.
Hello, the bass has finally arrived ? great work thank you very much, I am very satisfied... Thanks again and keep up the good work...
A very beautiful, simple but nevertheless extraordinary instrument. Perfect craftsmanship!
Thank you very much for the Alegra, a very wonderful instrument that immediately shows the love for detail. To play on this guitar is an experience. Your guitar can conjure, can tell fairy tales, can sing. It can do everything you could ever wish for. A real enrichment.
The guitar has a sound pattern that is unparalleled. The music becomes something completely new. Touching this guitar is a pleasure in itself. I would like to congratulate you and thank you for building such a wonderful instrument.
... I bought a guitar from you two weeks ago. Mr. Ortner advised me very nicely. The guitar, with which I am very satisfied, was made by him.
I wanted to bring him a small gift and would like to know if he would be happy about a nice single malt.
... I would like to thank you for the wonderful guitar. A good instrument inspires more every day, that's exactly what this guitar does.
The ukulele arrived yesterday. I have only briefly examined and played it, but so far I can already say: I am 100% satisfied with the instrument - I rarely experience something like this even on high quality instruments. So thank you very much already! I will soon report a bit more about it and probably commission the next one.
Great! Really, just terrific and amazing! It was worth the waiting. I could not have imagined last December that I would have had such a positive experience. What a sound, basses all balanced, equally loud! It's a lot of fun to play with.
Yesterday I had my first rehearsal with the IQ-Bass and it got attention with its appearance and actually more when playing and right at the end via the PA. Everyone was enthusiastic about the defined sound and the workmanship.
I would like to send a big thank you to you and actually to everyone who was involved in building the bass.
After a few months with my Primera Custom I would not want to miss it anymore!
Thanks again for the great instrument!
Your Double Fun guitar is absolutely brilliant!
The first concert with my (thank you!!!) new N°1 was a great success! A musician colleague, who knows me for a long time, put it this way: The best Burger ever. Of course he also meant the guitar. More possibilities in dynamics, the sound slightly cross, powerful, loud and also quietly stable with plenty of sustain .. Yesterday Ian Melrose and Kerstin Blodig were with me, also to listen to the guitar. They were also surprised, are pleased and think that it suits me well.
... the guitar is still a dream come true.
This was a trip that will give me an infinite number of moving moments! Hour by hour I will grow together with IQ and become familiar with it. It is going to be good!
Thanks for this masterpiece of craftsmanship!
I still have great fun with the instrument and play it almost every day. I have not regretted buying it for a second.
... yes, this is the art of craftsmanship ! The guitar I had up until now is a can of ravioli :-) What a sound, what a wood for the top ! Clear, balanced, charming but without sauce, with contours - "wham"- power ... and swing and sing :-), vibrates with musicality, LIVES !!! and revives.
Great !!!!! respect !! Thank you very much
... thank you very much for the repair of my guitar and the included humidifier. I have just played the guitar very extensively with great pleasure and have the impression that it sounds fuller and more balanced than before your repair. I am also very happy that the soundboard is almost unaffected.
I think it's great that you did this repair as a gesture of goodwill, although the damage may have been caused by my not quite proper handling of this fine instrument. I see that I still have to learn how to handle this fine guitar properly (not only when playing it).
I wish you much joy with your craft and the construction of many more of your so beautiful instruments.
Every single day I am absolutely happy about my two Evidence guitars ! Thank you for such beautiful instruments !
I am thrilled.
The bass sounds great and plays by itself. I really like playing with the fan frets and it is much easier than on the model with the straight frets that I played at your shop. The bevel on the chest side makes playing very comfortable.
thank you for your wonderful work, the playability of the IQ is very good.
I've been playing a Taylor AB4 acoustic bass for 21 years and your 6 string is so much better sounding, looking, and better built. I'm really impressed. Thanks for building such a beautiful bass. I'm looking forward to growing old with it.
It has now been two weeks since I visited you, and I've had plenty of time to explore the guitar.
Playing it is wonderful. The sound is just the way I like it, bright and clear.
In addition, it has a beautiful, noble look with a rosette that changes depending on the light, the sight alone is a pleasure.
Once again, many thanks.
The guitar arrived today and I am totally enthusiastic and satisfied. Thanks for the great instrument and see you next time! :)
You have succeeded in restoring my enjoyment of the instrument, and every time I play it I think of you. Now the instrument sounds like a silver bell again.
Thank you very much for your masterpiece , Mr. Stoll!!!
Sonorous and enthusiastic greetings
I just played my "new" old guitar and I am sooooo glad that I kept it:-))))))
You are a magician! And the hard strings suit her very well. I wonder how you managed to cope with that distorted neck?
Once again on the 25th Anniversary Lowden:
It is alive again now and a pleasure at last, after such a long time. After three guitar builders you have finally managed it. So I am glad to have made it to your place.
Thanks again for assembling and painting the Strat. This kit is easy to play and does not even have a bad sound over the system.
Great job. You have repaired the broken part of the head plate perfectly and the brass plate on the back of the body is neatly recessed. The reworked frets make the instrument sound unusually brilliant for me, and the fact that it now intonates perfectly gives me additional pleasure. The Elixir strings you have mounted are something new for me, they play great and sound pleasantly balanced. If they last as long as promised, I would have a serious alternative to "Ernie Ball".
Many thanks for the fair price and of course for your great work ...
Mandolin well received today!
Thanks for the good work! - I have to say that the sound is great, I will play the strings for a while and then test them again with phosphor bronze...in any case the strings are very easy and pleasant to play!
The guitar now plays much easier. Your work has brought a clear improvement.
The FGN has been excellently fretted! I am very satisfied! Many thanks and best regards to the man with the golden hands who did such a great job!
You have succeeded in restoring my enjoyment of the instrument, and every time I play it I think of you. Now the instrument sounds like a silver bell again.
Thank you very much for your masterpiece , Mr. Stoll!!!
Sonorous and enthusiastic greetings
I just played my "new" old guitar and I am sooooo glad that I kept it:-))))))
You are a magician! And the hard strings suit her very well. I wonder how you managed to cope with that distorted neck?
The size and shape of the sound hole has an impact on the Helmholtz frequency and therefore on the sound character of an instrument. The positioning of the sound hole on both sides of the fingerboard or omitting the sound hole entirely makes it possible to extend the fingerboard and the playing range to two octaves and also to fundamentally change the bracing and shaping of the instrument top. The impact on the sound will be described in the following paragraphs.
The most famous instrument with a double sound hole is probably the guitar made around 1929 by Francisco Simplicio ( http://www.themomi.org/museum/mfa/popular_guitars/1929-30_F_Simplicio.html , as of the 25th of June, 2008). Simplicio is credited to have seen a disadvantage of the traditional sound hole position in the weakening of the guitar top in a crucial area and also in a reduction of the sound emitting surface of the top (Huber, J.: The Development of the Modern Guitar, Westport, 1994, p.27). The increased sound emitting surface should also improve the sound emitting in the bass range (Stark, D.: Diplomarbeit – Entwurf und Bau einer Konzertgitarre mit doppelter Decke in Sandwichbauweise, Weimar, 2006, p.6). The positioning of the sound hole on both sides of the fingerboard also permits an extension of the playable range to two octaves.
The current options for the sound hole are: Traditional circular sound hole, double sound hole beside the fingerboard, leaving out the sound hole entirely (this creates the need for a sideport though).
Omitting the sound hole or positioning it on both sides of the fingerboard leads to an enlarged vibrating surface of the top. Cue to the ratio between top length or width and top thickness, it is possible to:
– attain the same degree of flexibility of the top as in a traditional guitar, but obtaining a higher mass of the top (this leads to a better sustain without the loss of attack and responsiveness)
– attain a more flexible top than on a traditional guitar, but maintaining the same mass of the top (this leads to increased loudness and responsiveness without the loss of sustain).
In addition, the Helmholtz frequency can be lowered significantly, which in turn has an
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