Drilling holes

[Soupy1957]

I don't remember the thread in here, but whilst perusing the Café over the weekend, seems I came up with a thread where the fella built his own mandolin and had put a series of 1" (approx.) Ø holes (perhaps 4 or 6 of em), around on the top face of the mandolin.

It got me wondering what impact it would have on the sound of my PacRims, if I did that to one of mine?

Thoughts, suggestions, ideas....

-Soupy1957

[MikeEdgerton]

Soupy, if there is anyone that should do this experiment it's you. Let us know how it turns out.

Check out James Condino's work here (http://www.condino.com/newcentury.html).

[Soupy1957]

Mike, (lol) I just KNEW you would say something like that!! You'd LOVE to see me destroy my PacRims, eh?!

Seriously though, what would it do to the sound?

-Soupy1957

[Brad Weiss]

My guess is it would weaken the tops of mandolins that weren't built to have extra holes drilled in them. But the soundport holes gauged out of the ribs of mandolin- not the top- might work to give you better feedback on what you sounded like- won't change the projection of sound, or hurt it, #but that could be interesting #- if you'll take the chance...

[Magnus Geijer]

I thought it was kind of an interesting idea. It seems like a lot of the pacrim mandos are a little overbuilt/undercarved. Drilling holes along the recurve might serve to weaken the recurve similarly to if it had been carved thinner.

Of course, I have no experience with such a project, nor technical data to back it up, but it would seem to make sense.

/Magnus

[Jim Garber]

I believe it is called trepanation...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Plate_20_6_20_extract_300px.jpeg

Or on a mandolin... ovation:

http://www.computersunlimited.com/images_products/ovation_mcs148_s14352.jpg

[allenhopkins]

Recent thread on extra holes. (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=13;t=51305)

Or try a Blue Comet. # (http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=27;t=51679;hl=comet)

[james condino]

There is a well published article by Carleen Hutchins where she carefully analyzed and documented the effects of non standard soundhole placement by turning one of #her violins into a giant Swiss cheese by putting about 70 different holes in the instrument, plugged the holes with cork, and then systematically removed and tested various configurations. My copy is back at the shop downtown, so I can't site the source right now. I think it first appeared in the Catgut Acoustic Society journal.

There an article in the new American Lutherie, I believe by Robert Ruck ('just got my copy today, so I haven't read it yet), where he discusses soundhole configurataion in classical guitars. #John Monteleone published an article in American Lutherie a few months ago where he dicusses his ported mandolins and guitars in depth.

Everyone seems to have a strong opinion about nontraditional soundholes, even though many folks have never actualy played one.

I've use several different soundhole and sideport configurations for over ten years. I could say a lot of things about them, but easily the most amazing thing is how quickly the grumpy old timers get all worked up about it in such a short time....

j.
www.condino.com

[Steve Davis]

Alan Carruth did a similar experiment with a guitar Here. (http://www.alcarruthluthier.com/guitars/corker.htm)

[Joel Spaulding]

James -
I'm sure many of us would like to hear of your experiences and impressions regarding the sound qualities of sideport and non-traditional soundholes- perhaps an article for you column in Mandolin Magazine?
I'm already chompin' at the bit for the next issue!

As for Grumpy old-timers, well, They just ain't no part of nuthin! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Peace,
Joel

[james condino]

If you go to the Guild show in Tacoma this June, my guess is that you'll be able to see and play roughly 50 (possible more) instruments that are ported in some manner. One of the great things about that show is that the main focus is on sharing information, so you'll see a lot of instruments and designs that are there for peer review (and sometimes laughter)- great instruments that took years to build and the luthier never wants to build another one again, but it is fun to be able to show it off to other builders. We all learn a great deal from it.

I'll cover both ends of the spectrum with several ported mandolins and a new ported double bass (on the large size of 3/4+ and a 42" scale). I'll also have the mandolins at Mike Marshall's workshop in Seattle the next week, and at the Mandolin Symposium. Everyone is welcome to give them a good test drive- that is the purpose. If you are anywhere near Asheville, feel free to stop by the shop downtown and you can check one out.

There are about 25 ported mandolins of mine floating around in the working trenches in the US and Europe. I first added it to the side of a guitar in about 1995 and liked it enough that it is pretty standard on all of my personal instruments. My general impression is that the basic tonal qualities of that individual instrument remain the same, but the percieved volume from the player's perspective is greatly increased. They put a smile on my face....

It is important to remember that it should be worked into the original design of the instrument. Just cutting a couple of holes in the box and calling it good will make a noticable change in the instrument, but wil cause stress fractures and eventual catastrophic failures. Nobody likes self imposed repairs- especially rib or side replacements. For interested builders, I give private workshops about once a month where we dissect that aspect of the instrument and get into all of the nerdy details that I can offer, including the ones that didn't hold up to the test of time.

Joel: I may take up your offer for the next issue of Mandolin Magazine. It is getting towards that time for a draft submission for me.

j.
www.condino.com

[allenhopkins]

There are about 25 ported mandolins of mine floating around in the working trenches in the US and Europe.
I hope you made them all F-models, so you could have a curl with every port...


Badda-bing!