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  #1  
Old 05-15-2022, 12:39 PM
Maniscalco Maniscalco is offline
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Default Soundhole Plug

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a soundhole plug to use during guitar construction. Something to keep debris and spay finishes out during construction. Right now I'm using a piece of springy foam in the hole and adding a piece of cardboard on top of that. It works but is a pain to get in and out and seat properly.

I've seen in videos that the larger guitar companies use what looks like a rubber inset but can't find one for sale anywhere. Maybe my google search skills are just poor.

I'm interested in what this group knows/uses and if there's a commercial one out there.
Thanks!
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Old 05-15-2022, 02:21 PM
runamuck runamuck is offline
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I've always used a piece of foam and a yogurt lid or something like that. It takes me about 15-20 seconds to get it in or out.
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Old 05-15-2022, 02:38 PM
RJVB RJVB is offline
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What you're looking for is a feedback buster. E.g.

https://www.thomann.de/intl/search_d...s=f1f60a_11681
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Old 05-15-2022, 05:35 PM
Fathand Fathand is offline
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I make up a big ball of paper towel, sometimes previously used, newspaper would probably work. I lay a fresh sheet flat on top of it just under the sound hole. The whole thing is a friction fit. The edges of the sound hole are still accessible to finishing material.
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Old 05-16-2022, 07:12 AM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maniscalco View Post
I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a soundhole plug to use during guitar construction. Something to keep debris and spay finishes out during construction. Right now I'm using a piece of springy foam in the hole and adding a piece of cardboard on top of that. It works but is a pain to get in and out and seat properly.

I've seen in videos that the larger guitar companies use what looks like a rubber inset but can't find one for sale anywhere. Maybe my google search skills are just poor.

I'm interested in what this group knows/uses and if there's a commercial one out there.
Thanks!
You can try a D'Addario Screeching Halt sound hole plug, but they don't fit every soundhole size.

It's much easier to simply stuff an old discarded soft cotton bath towel into the body.
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Old 05-17-2022, 09:15 PM
John Arnold John Arnold is offline
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A foam rubber block and a piece of stiff cardboard. I have made many from discarded string packages.
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Old 05-17-2022, 09:46 PM
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IndianHillMike IndianHillMike is offline
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I think some people blow up a balloon inside the sound-hole when finishing.
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Old 05-18-2022, 06:35 AM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is online now
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The problem with using a plug is if you're spray finishing it prevents you from sufficiently applying finish to the sound hole edge. Since this is exposed end grain the edges need to be finished.

The stuffed towel method still allows access to the sound hole edges while keeping all the garbage out of your work.
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  #9  
Old 05-18-2022, 11:04 AM
Fathand Fathand is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IndianHillMike View Post
I think some people blow up a balloon inside the sound-hole when finishing.
I tried this once, aside from preventing the soundhole edges from receiving finish, the nitro deteriorated the balloon after the first coat.
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