Different F/holes

[Alfang]

Maybe they're all having the annual Drambuie jam!

Or maybe they're too busy programming all the new f/hole options into The Wayback Machine (or whatever they call it)

Or maybe their standing there looking at this thread, with drambuie in hand saying, " we gotta shut this damn forum down"

 

[-CB-]

Maybe their doing the math longhand .....

Maybe their making SAMPLES to show

Maybe they'll give the person who suggested it ...nevermind, THAT aint gonna happen.

 

[Wyliee]

Cool idea guys, but I don't know you'd see anything soon.  Remember, there's more to it than cutting a hole.  Depending on the size and shape, the chambers might need to be redesigned.

 

[Nando Vallart]

Cool idea guys, but I don't know you'd see anything soon.  Remember, there's more to it than cutting a hole.  Depending on the size and shape, the chambers might need to be redesigned.

Probably leading to have just one generic chamber that fits all f-holes... a bit worky, but cool!

 

[-CB-]

Remember, there's more to it than cutting a hole.  Depending on the size and shape, the chambers might need to be redesigned.

Yes, true on a chambered body, less so on a Thinline, which is what I was thinking of.

For an f/hole chambered body, instead of altering the chambers for every f/hole, just leave the chambers out, in that area, and use an undercutting tool to create the hole and cavity.  Lots of ways to skin a mule, no?

 

[alexmyla]

+ 40 or something

OR what about F type holes on the back? so you can preserve the front wood but still have the resonance of a hollow body?

 

[rockskate4x]

+ 40 or something

OR what about F type holes on the back? so you can preserve the front wood but still have the resonance of a hollow body?

uh.... I'm not sure that a chambered body with an f-hole sounds that different from a chambered body without one, as long as we're strictly talking about electric guitars. I don't see much point of putting one in the back and not in the front.

 

[alexmyla]

no no not chambered . the hollowbody option. i mean isnt there a reason why people get holllowbody with f holes over chambered bodies without f holes? i just think the F holes are a bit unsightly on a guitar.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Unsightly, no.  It's just a different look and not for every guitar or everyone.  Having them on the back and not the front, now that's different.  On a Tele Thinline, they could probably already do that.  Just (for a right-handed body) turn the body over and tell the CNC machine it's a left-handed body.

 

[-CB-]

no no not chambered . the hollowbody option. i mean isnt there a reason why people get holllowbody with f holes over chambered bodies without f holes? i just think the F holes are a bit unsightly on a guitar.

As the proud owner of a thinline with no f/hole, I can tell ya, it dont make much difference if the hole is there or not.  The hole may induce feedback.  This is not hollow body - with resonant top like a jazz guitar.  This is thinline - a carved out innard, with a solid core down the middle.  BBKing Lucilles got no f/holes, and are also thinlines

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

+1 to what CB said about the presence of the F-hole doing anything on a Thinline.

Besides that, if it had any functionality, wouldn't an F-hole on the back be nullified by having your body cover it?

 

[JaySwear]

the f-hole really originated with archtop acoustics where it really acted as a soundhole. on electrics i think its just a cool artsy way of showing the removal of some wood to add to chambered or hollow body guitars. on large hollowbodies it might act as a soundhole like an acoustic, but would be much quieter (obviously).

EDIT: just pointing out the obvious archtop connection because without that influence an f-hole could be anything, really. if not for the cool archtop soundhole-like looks i don't think there really would be f-holes on electrics. only a big hollowbody could really make full use out of it. how it seems to me anyway

 

[-CB-]

Big thinlines to resonate a bit.  Fender Telecaster Thinline's don't (very much).  ES-33x bodies do, to some extent.  The ES-125, 135, 137, 139... series do to a greater extent.  The ES-175 is an archtop, but its a laminated/pressed top of the L-4, and pretty stiff.  Even so it does make some extra volume.  The L-5 or even the L-4 do very well on their own, being carved, thin tops, and 17 and 16 inch bout bodies respectively.  Those last two are true archtops.

There were flavors of the ES-137 and ES-135 that had no f/hole pretty recently.  Also Lucielle's have no f/hole.  When the body is still pretty thick on top and back and also pretty small, like a thinline tele... the hole is there for looks.

 

[exaN]

I would die for a F-hole like my PGM301 !!

Could do a hollow body version of it

 

[rightintheface]

lightning bolt f-holes like the jesse hughes maton sig would be pretty awwwwwwesome. i'm a big fan of f-holes.

wait, we're still talking guitars, right?
:glasses9:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

the f-hole really originated with archtop acoustics where it really acted as a soundhole. on electrics i think its just a cool artsy way of showing the removal of some wood to add to chambered or hollow body guitars. on large hollowbodies it might act as a soundhole like an acoustic, but would be much quieter (obviously).

EDIT: just pointing out the obvious archtop connection because without that influence an f-hole could be anything, really. if not for the cool archtop soundhole-like looks i don't think there really would be f-holes on electrics. only a big hollowbody could really make full use out of it. how it seems to me anyway

Archtops didn't invent the F-hole look.  The archtops probably stole them from the orchestral stringed instruments.

 

[OzziePete]

the f-hole really originated with archtop acoustics where it really acted as a soundhole. on electrics i think its just a cool artsy way of showing the removal of some wood to add to chambered or hollow body guitars. on large hollowbodies it might act as a soundhole like an acoustic, but would be much quieter (obviously).

EDIT: just pointing out the obvious archtop connection because without that influence an f-hole could be anything, really. if not for the cool archtop soundhole-like looks i don't think there really would be f-holes on electrics. only a big hollowbody could really make full use out of it. how it seems to me anyway

Archtops didn't invent the F-hole look.  The archtops probably stole them from the orchestral stringed instruments.

Blame Lloyd Loar @ Gibson in the 1920s!!!!

Projection of acoustic sound using an archtop design not unlike the design of violins, violas, cellos and double basses - hence the f-holes.

They were trying to get as much volume out of the guitar using acoustic means. The other big thing back then was the dobro resonator with a similar aim. Electromagnetic pickups and amplification came a little later.

Re: Different shapes. Would the ever zealous legal people at Rickenbacker have an issue if someone else started using scimitar shaped sound holes? :dontknow:

 

[Mor Paul]

Re: Different shapes. Would the ever zealous legal people at Rickenbacker have an issue if someone else started using scimitar shaped sound holes? :dontknow:

Wouldn't be surprised. I understand where they're coming from, though. I wouldn't want my designs to enter the public domain.

 

[JaySwear]

Archtops didn't invent the F-hole look.  The archtops probably stole them from the orchestral stringed instruments.

very true, i should have realized that  :doh:  but i think the archtops are the reason those f-hole styles are popular with guitarists. i guess in the way that violins and old orchestral instruments were inspirations with archtops.

 

[clearerphish]

Re: Different shapes. Would the ever zealous legal people at Rickenbacker have an issue if someone else started using scimitar shaped sound holes? :dontknow: