Side sound hole

[jazzjune18]

howdy. I recently had a fit of madness and drilled side ports/sound holes into all of the mandolins that I have built from scratch. (Well let me clarify. I tried it with one, loved the difference and went forward with the other instruments). Very cool. It makes it much. Nicer for the most important audience member. You warning though. I got a little excited on one and made a small crack.

Just wanted to share three idea. You can definitely tell the difference in sound.

[Robert B]

I did this on an old Yamaha folk guitar. It certainly made a positive difference in this case, as well. I did a dog paw design, using a Drexel.

[JEStanek]

Can you post a photo of your side ports, please? I'm sure folks would be interested in the dimensions you're using.

Jamie

[jazzjune18]

here ya go...one on a mandolin, mandola, and octave mandolin (all flat top)...

[Bill Snyder]

I did this on an old Yamaha folk guitar. It certainly made a positive difference in this case, as well. I did a dog paw design, using a Drexel.

Do you mean a Dremel or is a Drexel a tool you have?

[Sevelos]

Side ports are a fascinating subject! Following this thread, I just spent several hours reading about them. Here's a good (guitar) thread, for example:
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=210909

My conclusions:
1. A side port serves as a monitor for the player.
2. It (almost?) does not change the sound the audience hears.
3. The only drawback seems to be when playing in a quiet environment where you don't want "all this sound directly into your face". Therefore many instruments with side ports offer a way to close them.

Personally, I don't understand why they are used so rarely. From what I read they seem great!

[DavidKOS]

You can see the side sound holes on my Vietnamese french style mandolin.

There is also a inner resonator under the holes, not touching the back or sides. It sounds great and is loud.

[BlueMountain]

I agree with Sevelos that a sound port doesn't seem to change what the audience hears, but it can make an immense difference to what the player hears. When I tuned up my new ten string Mandola, I wasn't impressed with the tone, but it sounded much better and very loud to listeners. After I cut a sound port, I could hear what the audience heard, and I loved the result. I recommend gluing in a cleat across the grain on each side of the hole, on the inside, so the side doesn't split with the grain.

[DavidKOS]

There's a difference between instruments with sound ports on the side and instruments with sound ports and inner resonators.

[David Houchens]

I didn't get to hear this one in a jam setting, but didn't notice a big difference in player volume. It was a fairly loud mandolin though.
I am interested in it's use with an interior baffle/resonator though.

[DavidKOS]

I am interested in it's use with an interior baffle/resonator though.

Does it have any or is that just another sound hole?

[jazzjune18]

I notice a slightly different tonal quality when I have the whole plug versus open. It would make sense to if you think about the differences you get between having different F whole sizes or even comparing anoval hole instrument versus one with f holes

[David Houchens]

DavidKOS, No reso in this one. It's been sold so I'll have to try it out on another.

[k0k0peli]

Maybe I should try such trephination on my Rogue. Couldn't hurt, huh?

[Robert B]

Do you mean a Dremel or is a Drexel a tool you have?

Yes, it was a Dremel.

[Robert B]

[Doug Edwards]

Robert, loving the dog print! Is it reinforced on the inside?

[Robert B]

Robert, loving the dog print! Is it reinforced on the inside?

Thank you
It's not reinforced. I resized the pattern to leave it away from the edged of the side so that the existing support would not be significantly affected. - I wasn't really concerned about possible long term splintering. I paid 35$ CDN for this guitar in a pawn shop.... it had been damaged on the butt end and was fixed with bondo. It did have a decent sound, but I bought it as a project guitar because I wanted to do some art on it and hang it on the wall.