Soundports??

[mutley2209]

hi all had a question about soundports. are they any good? ive just taken out my electrics as they've not been working for a while and i like what im hearing i guess i can hear what others can when in front of the guitar, i've always found that sitting in front of the guiatar being played is better than playing (sound wise i mean ) . i've been reading about it and Oval shaped holes are supposed to be better than a perfect circle (at the moment i have a reqtangular hole as the electrics are out, must get better with the proper shape im guessing ) haven't seen any on the Avalons? is this because its better to offer it as a custom option or because Avalon don't like them?

[JB]

It's something we have considered although not high up on the list I'll admit, I can't actually remember any customer requesting a soundport on a bespoke model either ... ?

[Ross A]

They seem to be very popular on expensive American guitars. I would be interested to see how they wouldn't lose volume for your audience....

[mutley2209]

yeah i suppose volume may be affected, but i suppose if its plugged in youd be alright. i've seen models with small soundports so i guess they let the player get the same level of experience as the audience without loosing too much volume. interesting

i've been playing around with it, putting my hand over the hole then strumming, hand off then strum theres a differance in favour of the extra hole. i get a bit extra from it, probably hearing what someone does when there the ones listening not playing but like i say it just the hole from where i pulled out the electrics so it's a bit big, would be good too find a music shop with a proper one.

like you say they are popular in the americas, thats whats got my attention, been seing more of them about on the net and to me they sound pretty good, Andy McKee just got a couple of Greenfield guitars both with soundports, they sound great all kinda why i was thinking about them. if its good for players like him and Don Ross i thort hey must be good

[drmar120]

Everything I've read on guitar boards seems to indicate that there's no loss of volume in front the guitar; and the player gets a much better idea of what his/her playing is really sounding like.

I played a House guitar a year ago with a soundport, and I was definitely hearing more than I'm used to. I liked that. Lovely guitar too. I'm considering having a port added to (or is it subtracted from?) a Tacoma/Orpheum OM I have. But I think I'll leave my A201 alone.

[mutley2209]

i've been reading that adding one after its been finished is a bit risky, some people have spoilt the finish as cracks emerge, think it through before you add one. would be nice to have one mind at the moment this boxish shape in mine doesnt look too pretty so would be good to have a proper one in a new guitar some time

[Loki]

I was reading earlier today that Tim McKnight, the luthier, is going to retro fit a soundport to one of his customers guitars, with an audience, at this years McKnight 'McJam'.

Don't think he would be doing this if there were any big risk of making a mess of it.

I suspect that this operation would be fine for an experienced and equipped luthier, but falls well into the "Don't try this at home, children!" category.

Can't figure why anyone might want to do this. I treasure the facility of not hearing all my mistakes

[mutley2209]

cool may have too look it up if anyone does get one done let us know how it goes and what the differance is, gunna look around for one with a proper oval or circular soundport to have a play