#1
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3,81" soundhole diameter > 4" diameter?
Hello,
I read that all Martin dreads have a 4 " soundhole diameter. I have a fantastic sounding made in Japan seventies D45 copy that is not so loud... I did some measurements and to my surprise the diameter is smaller than normal (3,81 inch or 9,68 cm). I have other Japanese brand guitars (from that era) and these are all in the 4" ballpark. I'm thinking about enlarging the soundhole to normal specs. Can anyone tell me if this could and would deteriorate the sound? I'm hoping the guitar would retain it's full bass (or most of it) and gain some volume. The difference is diameter is only slight.... Last edited by Foughe; 05-17-2018 at 11:45 PM. |
#2
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#3
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Sound hole size is only one of many things that work together to create a sound.
That is, top thickness, brace shapes and sizes, side strength, bridge thickness and so much more contribute to the sound, just changing one thing may do nothing or may imbalance what you already have. Just thoughts before you proceed. Steve
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Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#4
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Quote:
I'm only wondering if slightly enlarging the soundhole up to Martin spec would have a negative effect (or any effect at all). Maybe someone has done this same experiment here? |
#5
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I can only tell you that I've read that enlarging a soundhole, like you're considering, may very well reduce the lower frequency response.
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#6
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Isn't there a Clarence White or Tony Rice model Martin with an enlarged soundhole? Maybe a search for that would yield some research.
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#7
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Quote:
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#8
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Yes, the D-28CW (Clarence White), but this is not currently in production. Other custom guitarmakers also produce or have produced commemorative Clarence White/Tony Rice models with the enlarged soundhole.
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#9
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There are three resonances that work together at the low end of the guitar spectrum. The top, back and hole resonance. The three interact and cause the resultant resonances to be in different positions than they started. One goal is to place these resonances in between the scale tones. Decreasing the stiffness, adding and removing mass and increasing the hole size can be used to nudge the resonances off a scale tone if needed. The change you are contemplating will move the sound hole resonance slightly up in frequency. I doubt it will have much effect in volume, it may place a resonance on a scale tone and produce a wolf note.
I will let you figure out what my thoughts are on modifying the guitar if you like the way it sounds.
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Fred |
#10
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Hi,
thanks for all the replies and the opinions... I will trust your experience and will not mess with the soundhole, but leave it as the maker apparently intended it to be. As a maker of Martin style guitar (or outright copies) I was just wonderin' why they didn't choose for the standard 4" diameter. Again, thanks. Interesting opinions and insights here. |
#11
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There were no true "copies" of Martin guitars during that period. Look inside and you'll find all sorts of things that aren't exact copies of Martin construction. The sound hole diameter is easily measured, so it's obvious. It could as simple as whatever tooling they had available was used and that produced a slightly smaller hole.
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