Sound Ports

[ken cierp]

So who's played a guitar with a sound port and what did you think? Would you pay $100 extra for it?

[Kyle Barbour]

I'm in the middle of a build with a sound port now so that I can answer that question for myself. I've been following the other sound port thread and have been intrigued with some of the responses. Seems like opinions vary quite a bit on this.

[ken cierp]

Are you referring to the one I started on OLF? Seems there's as much lampooning as opposed to the info sharing we have here -- of course I think this is the best forum ever!

[Tim Benware]

I've built 2 upon request and after playing both of them I would say i prefer having none. Might just be after playing without one for over 45 years they don't sound right to me.

[Dave Bagwill]

I put a large soundport on the f-hole flattop and I liked it a lot. $100 sounds like a lot for the minimal work involved, but then mine was dead simple - no binding, no fancy shapes.

[Herman]

I'm with Dave. I made one with three little holes. This one:



After playing it now for 3 years I am still surprised about the great effect it has to the players ear. The man who ordered the Jumbo I'm building now, played it with open ports and covered. He also was amazed about the effect. Now he wants them too in his guitar.

The difference with/without is in front of the guitar not that obvious, but with the ear 15 inches from the upper bout just great. Yes I'm a fan. Before I was as sceptic as most of us, but you should try it. At least for one time.

Would I pay a 100 bucks? Difficult to say. As Dave mentioned, it is not that much work. so for a 500 dollar guitar it would be bit out of the league. If 50 dollar were asked, I would say: go for it.

[ken cierp]

So of course I had to ask John Greven for his opinion and insight -- here you go:

Ken;
Oddly enough, I have done a 180 on that issue. Much effort and many years of ranting about ports has given way to acceptance. I have played bad guitars with sound ports and great guitars with sound ports. Same with traditional sound holes. If the guitar is built lightly and sensibly with excellent top material and not too heavy body woods etc. it will sound good port or no port.

A port does help the player hear the guitar, but it also takes away from the guitar's ability to throw the sound forward and project. But for most modern players, that is not an issue. Back in the old days, power and projection were the prime directives as there was no amplification systems available to the players. They had to be heard by natural means only. Makes a difference in how you build a guitar.

Today's builders have far more freedom to play with alternative constructions. Walking the isles of Healdsburg sampling the works, I always come away with the sense that a huge portion of the luthier's efforts are going into the art of woodworking instead of the art of making a musical instrument. Furniture with strings kind of thing. You CAN do it, but SHOULD you. Does it make for a more musical musical instrument or does it just make for a more artful piece of woodworking? In the hands of many current young makers, ports and their related trap doors etc are part of that whole "missing the point of it" thing. I think the goal for all of us should be to build the very best voiced musical instrument possible, end of story.

J