Another port installation - this time a little bit different....

[fitness1]

I'd been on a search for a dread, and considering having Bill build me one, but I stumbled across a great deal on a near mint Eastman AC420. Not normally a rosewood guy, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

Not long after I tweaked it and got it strung up I realized it was quite special, and even with the narrow spacing I was probably going to be pretty happy with it.

Well, the old ticker started churning and I had a flashback of playing a House GA at Elderly's with dual ports. It was really quite a memorable experience and I've not had it since.

I started thinking of ways that I could re-create it being limited to what I can do after the finish is applied etc. Also the other method I've used in the past (using the curve of the upper bout to sand an oval) doesn't work on the lower bout.

So, I came up with a plan, made a couple of templates, and began the work.

I had quite a bit of time the last two days, and it's a good thing I did because I'd forgotten how thin and brittle the nitro is on these things. I had to be very deliberate with my "removal" of wood

It turned a great instrument into something really special, and aesthetically, I know it might not be for some of you, but the smaller holes being pointed in different directions really seems to work!

I'd like to have moved the lower bout cluster farther down, but there was a brace in the way.

Anyway, mission accomplished and I'm VERY happy with the result!

[Rosewood99]

Way cool. Great job.

[ifret]

Wow...you did a beautiful job!

[Kip Carter]

I'm not sure where I am on sound ports. Your tweak looks kinda neat and I think I like it, but it is like a lot of other sound ports I've seen where I thought they had a visual appeal but because I've never played anything that had them i'm a bit agnostic about them.

Hats off to you though, it appears you did a very nice job.

And as long as you like it then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks!

[billgennaro]

So how did you drill the holes without managing to chip the nitro finish?

[PointBlank]

Good idea within a design. I've been wanting to do a port hole in a Yamaha FG with laminated maple back and sides. But also not liking the big hole the normal port hole looks like. Thanks for the idea with the different pattern.

Notice any sonic changes?

[Kip Carter]

Originally Posted by PointBlank

Good idea within a design. I've been wanting to do a port hole in a Yamaha FG with laminated maple back and sides. But also not liking the big hole the normal port hole looks like. Thanks for the idea with the different pattern.

Notice any sonic changes?

Your gonna have to be extra careful with that laminate.

[CoolerKing]

Cool project!

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by Kip Carter

I've never played anything that had them i'm a bit agnostic about them.

If you ever get a chance to play a really good guitar with one, I doubt you'd ever go back.

Pointblank, the guitar is louder, warmer, fatter trebles and more dynamic - pretty much more of everything.

I used a Dremel with a small bit and low speed for starter holes, then I wrapped an endpin reamer with 220 paper and painstakingly rotated it until it created the size hole I wanted. I probably have about 6-7 hours into it.....(patience my son)

When I was done, I wrapped strips of 220 around the end of a string winder and sanded the bevel into the larger holes, and around the end of a Sharpie for the two small holes.

I used a heavy dose of Lizard Spit to lube the exposed areas for now, but will probably buy some tongue oil to finish it eventually.

[good_hillbilly]

Originally Posted by fitness1

I'd been on a search for a dread, and considering having Bill build me one, but I stumbled across a great deal on a near mint Eastman AC420. Not normally a rosewood guy, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

Not long after I tweaked it and got it strung up I realized it was quite special, and even with the narrow spacing I was probably going to be pretty happy with it.

Well, the old ticker started churning and I had a flashback of playing a House GA at Elderly's with dual ports. It was really quite a memorable experience and I've not had it since.

I started thinking of ways that I could re-create it being limited to what I can do after the finish is applied etc. Also the other method I've used in the past (using the curve of the upper bout to sand an oval) doesn't work on the lower bout.

So, I came up with a plan, made a couple of templates, and began the work.

I had quite a bit of time the last two days, and it's a good thing I did because I'd forgotten how thin and brittle the nitro is on these things. I had to be very deliberate with my "removal" of wood

It turned a great instrument into something really special, and aesthetically, I know it might not be for some of you, but the smaller holes being pointed in different directions really seems to work!

I'd like to have moved the lower bout cluster farther down, but there was a brace in the way.

Anyway, mission accomplished and I'm VERY happy with the result!

Sorry to be a total hick, but I've only seen pics of soundports and never seen one in person. What is the benefit of them? Is it just so the player can hear a little better?

If so, I find that somewhat easy to believe -- I used to have a resonator guitar that projected a narrow beam of blasting sound perpendicular to the front, but you could hardly hear the thing playing it!

Doesn't seem to be a problem for regular guitars though so I am just wondering if there isn't some other benefit.

HECK of a good job on those holes though -- how did you drill them?

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by good_hillbilly

What is the benefit of them? Is it just so the player can hear a little better?



HECK of a good job on those holes though -- how did you drill them?

Answered in post #9.....

[Kip Carter]

GH is asking pretty much my cloaked question as well.... So while we are on the topic... or maybe this needs a thread by itself....

Do sound ports diminish directional (front) output,
resonance,
or tone?

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by Kip Carter

GH is asking pretty much my cloaked question as well.... So while we are on the topic... or maybe this needs a thread by itself....

Do sound ports diminish directional (front) output,
resonance,
or tone?

I've found that many times they also work like a breather hole on a gas can, and actually increase the output out front.

Other side benefits I've experienced:

Making an otherwise "boomy" and hard to record instrument smooth out it's bass response and be easier to manage with a mic in it's face.

Also, some inexpensive instruments have rather "brittle" trebles - it can really warm/fatten them up - not sure how, but it can make a huge difference in that respect. This guitar had a bit of that, now it is completely gone....

[Kip Carter]

Originally Posted by fitness1

Answered in post #9.....

Okay that answers a lot... sorry I missed that post for some reason. Too bad we can't tag members so they know they have a reply sitting somewhere when not following a thread.

[random works]

Very fine looking beveled mini soundports. To me, these look just as polished and finished as the pros ( must be the patience you spoke of).

A sound port can do small wonders for a guitar. Thanks for sharing the photos.