Why do some high-end guitars have holes in their sides?

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by srbell

Now those are very nice looking, something I could see having. Most I've seen don't look anywhere near that nice. Thanks for sharing the pics.

Even the more traditional ones look nice. I would like to see examples of what you think are mutilations.

[Acousticado]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

This soundport is stunning, so well executed, like it’s meant to be there.

[Nymuso]

Many people are serious about these things. Having played a few guitars that have them I retain my skepticism. Many people are serious about tattoos for about the same reason: It's the thing all the cool kids are doing. I suspect in future years plastic surgeons specializing in tattoo removal will have storefront clinics next to guitar repairmen specializing in tone port closure. Both for $49.95!

[DenverSteve]

Hook line and sinker........

[jaymarsch]

I ordered a custom guitar last year and opted to have the optional soundport. This particular luthier does an unbound narrow oval which I liked both functionally and aesthetically. I play with a light attack and it does bring a noticeable difference. As a singer, I thought the extra sound would be too much but I found with this guitar to not be an issue. Another one of those options that depends on personal preferences.

Best,
Jayne

[Mycroft]

A builder friend built one with a small sliding "door" that you could open and close over the sound port. So several of use experimented with playing and standing out front. We tried it with the door open all the way, partly, and closed. We found that when open the volume out front would decrease by a couple of percent, but be much more for the player. So they do have an effect.

OMMV

[srbell]

Originally Posted by paulzoom

Even the more traditional ones look nice. I would like to see examples of what you think are mutilations.

I wasn't the one that called them mutilations, but only that i found them somewhat unattractive (as if a preamp had been removed leaving an open hole). I personally don't like the looks of the wide open sound holes, but those that were pictured above where they're less "wide open" I do find appealing. I would definitely consider a guitar with one like those.

[Gordon Currie]

Originally Posted by LikeASir_

It pains me to see a beautiful guitar mutilated. Is there a reason for it?

I'm going to guess you don't like cutaways...

[zephystar]

Wow, not one cup holder joke yet? You guys are slacking today!

[robj144]

Originally Posted by Nymuso

Many people are serious about these things. Having played a few guitars that have them I retain my skepticism. Many people are serious about tattoos for about the same reason: It's the thing all the cool kids are doing. I suspect in future years plastic surgeons specializing in tattoo removal will have storefront clinics next to guitar repairmen specializing in tone port closure. Both for $49.95!

You've played some guitars with sound ports and you thought they made no difference?

There are a lot of modifications to a guitar which are hard to hear at best such as changing bridge pins. Sound ports are a night and day difference in how the player hears the guitar.

I honestly didn't think there would be anyone who said they didn't make a difference.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by robj144

You've played some guitars with sound ports and you thought they made no difference?

There are a lot of modifications to a guitar which are hard to hear at best such as changing bridge pins. Sound ports are a night and day difference in how the player hears the guitar.

I honestly didn't think there would be anyone who said they didn't make a difference.

I'll second that opinion. I have two guitars with sound ports and they allow me to hear what I'm playing much easier, especially with fingerstyle.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by robj144

You've played some guitars with sound ports and you thought they made no difference?

There are a lot of modifications to a guitar which are hard to hear at best such as changing bridge pins. Sound ports are a night and day difference in how the player hears the guitar.

I honestly didn't think there would be anyone who said they didn't make a difference.

A lot depends on how you play. I find that they don't make much difference for the way I play at least 95% of the time, which is with a pick. Other folks who play with a pick have already chimed in saying that soundports do make a difference for them, but clearly they and I are not using the exact same right hand attack.

When I play with bare fingers or with a light right hand attack, there's an audible difference and clear advantage to having a soundport on the guitar. But that's not how I play most of the time. I should point out that I've owned two guitars with soundports, one of them for about five years, the other for about ten. So I do have personal experience with playing guitars that have soundports, and am not basing my opinion on playing a soundported guitar in a music store for a few minutes.

I no longer have either guitar, as it happens, but the one I sold last fall is absolutely loved by the guy who bought it. It works well for him.

Short version: soundports work well for some players, but are not especially useful for others. If you're an enthusiastic convert to soundports that might be hard for you to believe, but it's true.


Wade Hampton Miller

[Mr Bojangles]

I don't know, careless handling maybe?

[muscmp]

they were swinging their guitar around and it hit the microphone stand making a hole in it.

play music!

[muscmp]

Originally Posted by Nymuso

Many people are serious about these things. Having played a few guitars that have them I retain my skepticism. Many people are serious about tattoos for about the same reason: It's the thing all the cool kids are doing. I suspect in future years plastic surgeons specializing in tattoo removal will have storefront clinics next to guitar repairmen specializing in tone port closure. Both for $49.95!

there are so many people with tattoos that no one will care in the future. it may be the opposite. oh, look, they don't have a tat!!

play music!