#1
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Sound Hole Question
I am putting a new neck on a Martin 000- 16Rtge cutaway. I have the neck and fretboard removed and was thinking about putting a new top on it. The sound hole measures 3 7/8 in. across. Most of the pre-made Rossettes that i see are 4 3/8+ which makes the small reveal between the sound hole and the rossette a little to wide for my liking. If i am making a new top can i cut the sound hole slightly larger to fit the rossette? Is the sound hole a particular size for a reason ie; Sound transmission through the hole, tone etc?
Also how do I post a photo in my posts? thanks, Keith R |
#2
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Quote:
You could make a simple rosette, or use a pre-made rosette and fit it into a smaller diameter route. There's usually a gap in the rosette under the fretboard which give you a little flexibility. You do not want to replace the top, unless it's badly damaged. That's not an easy repair, and requires building a form to hold the sides in place while the top is removed.
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Rodger Knox, PE 1917 Martin 0-28 1956 Gibson J-50 et al |
#3
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Ok thanks Roger!! So if i got a rossette that is say 4 1/2 in. diameter i can cut out a small piece and put the gap under the fretboard? The top has a few deep scratches and a small crack. I have silicone heating pads that i use for fretboards/bridge removal, binding jig and was thinking about making a form to fit it before take the top off. I have never done it but have watched quite a few videos on how its done. I think about it some more and decide i guess.
thanks, Keith R |
#4
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A Martin rosette is just a series of concentric rings, and once you see that, it cannot be that intimidating to attempt it, certainly not compared to a re-top. The top is the beating heart of a guitar, and while a transplant can be done, it is quite drastic and the patient is unlikely to be the same afterward.
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#5
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Roger's right, as far as that goes: the soundhole size does help determine the pitch of the Helmholtz resonance. However, while the 'main air' resonance on a guitar does derive from the Helmholtz mode, it's not the same thing as the flexibility of the top and back change it. In addition, it's hard to say exactly what effect the 'air' pitch has on tone unless it matches a played note fairly exactly in pitch, in which case you get a 'wolf'. Small changes in sound hole size don't make big changes in the 'air' pitch. OTOH, it does often seem to me that a larger hole lends a more 'open' or 'forward' timbre to the guitar, even when it doesn't alter the 'air' pitch much. It's possible to think of reasons why this would happen, but hard to 'prove' any of them in practice. Guitars are pretty complicated...
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#6
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Thank you for the replies and advice!! I'll think about it some more....and more...and more... Maybe I will just leave it and experiment on an old cheap beater acoustic before i tackle this one. I should have the neck shaped in a few days. I added a maple/walnut/maple stripe to it for looks and to strengthen the neck!! If i knew how to add pictures to my posts i would!
Thanks, Keith R |