Removable F Hole Inserts/Covers

[JerseyPicker]

Does anyone know if something like this exists? I am wanting to plug in my Eastman 605 and experiment with distortion. Looking for ways to reduce feedback before I try.

Would taping the holes up with duck tape help?

[FLATROCK HILL]

If you're determined to cover the ff-holes... blue painters tape maybe. I wouldn't let duct (duck) tape come anywhere near it.

[MikeEdgerton]

Blue painters tape, duct tape would kill the finish. F holes are all different shapes and sizes.

[Seter]

What about cutting pieces of styrofoam to fit your particular F holes?

[William Smith]

Yes cut foam, or the like and make sure its SOFT and pliable, F-holes are delicate, I've seen this done with my Uncle Gene who plays mando with Diamond Rio with his Feb.18th, 24 Loar years ago and he told me it was for the studio work.

[Jeff Mando]

As a person who has tried to play hollow body guitars in a loud (100 watts+) rock band, even stuffing the entire inside of the guitar with foam -- I will say it will only help up to a point -- it will still feedback. You will need to learn to "work" the volume knob or use a volume pedal, mostly so you can shut the thing off between songs. During the songs, a controlled feedback can be a good thing, such as with old Creedence Clearwater Revival recordings.

[gspiess]

This thread reminded me of one of the most iconic guitars in rock history: Mark Farner's (Grand Funk Railroad) Messenger. It was an aluminum hollow body that had a really unique overdriven sound through a West double stack, but Farner had feedback problems. So he stuffed it with foam and covered the f-holes with masking tape. This was a guy in the band, that to this day holds multiple records for concert attendance and sold millions of albums...playing this guitar:

Ultimately he retired the Messenger when he couldn't find anyone to re-fret the aluminum neck.

[MikeZito]

I am surprised that an aluminum guitar was able to stay tuned under hot stage lights and/or outdoor shows; (kind of like the old steel neck Kramer guitars from the 70's). Earlier today I brought my hollow body Gretsch 12-string to an out door open mic, and as soon as I pulled it out of the case, a guy came up to me and said; 'You are a brave man to bring that 12-string to an outdoor event.' As it turns out, I had to tune the guitar 3 times before I did my set.

[gspiess]

and I don't think they had digital tuners in the 70's.

[pops1]

and I don't think they had digital tuners in the 70's.

I can remember going outside, even in the winter, in a noisy gig to be able to hear to tune in the '70's

[Jeff Mando]

I can remember going outside, even in the winter, in a noisy gig to be able to hear to tune in the '70's

My "trick" back then for tuning in a loud place was to raise the body of my guitar up to my ear (like Johnny Cash) and then you can clearly hear the vibrations -- it is actually still a good trick.

[pops1]

My "trick" back then for tuning in a loud place was to raise the body of my guitar up to my ear (like Johnny Cash) and then you can clearly hear the vibrations -- it is actually still a good trick.

I have done that too, but this place was loud, college kids, 80's, alcohol, loud.

[Toni Schula]

Removeable F Hole ...
... reminds me of the Beatles, Yellow Submarine - "I've got a hole in my pocket..."

[Dale Ludewig]

I have done that too, but this place was loud, college kids, 80's, alcohol, loud.

They probably wouldn't have noticed if you were in tune.

[pops1]

They probably wouldn't have noticed if you were in tune.

You are probably right Dale, but I couldn't stand it myself. Glad those days are over, my ear isn't what it was then and tuners take all the guess work out of it. Or at least get you close depending on which tuner you have.

Just reread the last couple posts, on one I say 70's then 80's. Hope my ear is better than my memory.

[Willie Poole]

Many`s a time I seen Buzz Busby just stick his mandolin right up into the vocal mic so he could hear it through the speakers and tune, I do it sometimes myself, some tuners just get you close and you have to listen to fine tune the strings...BUT as they say "Close enough for Bluegrass"...I get accused of have too good of an ear by some folks...

Willie

[gspiess]

I use one of those little Snark tuners, and if someone is talking, tuning, playing, singing anywhere near me, it picks them up too.

[allenhopkins]

Any sound loud enough to make your instrument vibrate, a clip-on tuner will hear.

However, if you have the red Snark, check the little switch on the side and see if it's slid to "mic," which will mean the built-in microphone is engaged, and will pick up all kinds of room sounds. I like the "mic" feature for tuning instruments like Autoharps that lack a good anchor for the clip, but I sometimes forget and leave the microphone on, which means the Snark "hears" all ambient noise.