Improve the sound?

[Andromeda]

I have a Breedlove Discovery Dreadnaught that’s a few years old now. While I do like the guitar I have a little issue with the tone

It sounds a little thin and what I describe as slightly muffled in tone in that it doesn’t ring out as much as I’d like.

What can be done to improve the tone...if anything?

[TBman]

My Seagull folk was a little anemic sounding so I put in a sound port which helped a lot.

[stephenT]

Easy first step would be a harder saddle material. Good bone or fossilized (legal) ivory.

[Brucebubs]

I did just 3 things to my used Epiphone EJ-200 that really improved the tone and volume.
New bone saddle - Bone bridge pins - DR Sunbeam round-core strings.

[Bax Burgess]

All three of those suggestions should do the trick. I would position the port on the midpoint of the upper bout's curve. If directly below the chin, it can be quite loud.

[Dru Edwards]

Hey Andromeda, did the guitar always sound like that? If not, then perhaps humidity could be an issue?

That aside, a bone nut/saddle and new strings may improve it. It's also possible the guitar will always sound "thin" even with changes.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Hey Andromeda, did the guitar always sound like that? If not, then perhaps humidity could be an issue?

That aside, a bone nut/saddle and new strings may improve it. It's also possible the guitar will always sound "thin" even with changes.

It has always sounded that way to some degree. I’m going to get a new bone nut, saddle and bridge pins.

The guitar isn’t that bad and I think even small improvements will make a difference.

[Rockysdad]

Which strings have you tried ? can be a big difference.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by Rockysdad

Which strings have you tried ? can be a big difference.

I generally use Elixir Mediums. What would you recommend I try?

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by Andromeda

I generally use Elixir Mediums. What would you recommend I try?

Maybe try lights.
Those DR Sunbeams I suggested didn't impress me at all when I tried them for the very 1st time ... but they were Mediums.
I just so happened to have a set of Lights too so they went on back-to-back with the Mediums.
Amazing difference.
Guess the heavier gauge were choking the guitar.

So impressed I even took a picture!

[justonwo]

Every time I have ever said, "I like the sounds of this guitar, but I wish it . . . ." that guitar has eventually ended up getting sold. The only exception was my Blazer and Henkes Euphonon, which took quite a long time to get used to.

By all means, play around with things a bit, but it's hard to fix "thin" and "muffled." I would sell the guitar before I would put a sound port in it.

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by justonwo

Every time I have ever said, "I like the sounds of this guitar, but I wish it . . . ." that guitar has eventually ended up getting sold. The only exception was my Blazer and Henkes Euphonon, which took quite a long time to get used to.

By all means, play around with things a bit, but it's hard to fix "thin" and "muffled." I would sell the guitar before I would put a sound port in it.

No intention of selling it...no intention of having a sound port put in either.

[Goodallboy]

Then why ask for advice?

You’ll probably just need to accept it doesn’t sound very good.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by Andromeda

No intention of selling it...no intention of having a sound port put in either.

Hi Andromeda, I hope you are well. You are a fine person. With my first classical, which was given to me, but not a great guitar, I decided to add a soundport. I knew I would never sell it. So i drilled and dremelled a cool leafy pattern on the upper bout. I think it turned out ok, and I actually liked the soundport. It sounded better when I played it.

Eventually I gave that guitar away, I think to a local school if I recall correctly. So, maybe you shouldn't add one, but if it's not for sale, that helps make the decision easier.

Ciao. Try the saddle and strings first.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by Goodallboy

Then why ask for advice?

You’ll probably just need to accept it doesn’t sound very good.

Because not all advice is equivalent. An unalterable modification is in a different ballpark from a saddle, nut, bridge pin, or string change.