Flame Arabesque Sound Holes on Mandolin?

[TheArimathean]

I have seen many viols, and especially violas d'amore with flame-shaped arabesque soundholes. I am curious if anyone has ever made a mandolin with this shape of soundhole, especially if there are pictures somewhere out there.

I am currently in the process of building a mandolin (using F5 plans) and might try to carve these instead of F-holes if I like how it blends with the F-style aesthetic.

So yes, if any one of you has seen, made, own, or heard of a mandolin with flame shaped sound holes (something like the viols below), please share!

[Explorer]

Maybe not flames, but there are plenty of unique and unusual soundholes to be found on mandolins.

Here's one such topic.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...and-side-ports

It contains one example of flame.

Attachment 136601

Doing a Google image search on "mandolin unusual OR unique soundole OR soundholes" will find all kinds of inspiration.

[Marty Jacobson]

It contains one example of flame.

Attachment 136601

I don't know who's dumb enough to put hot rod flames like that on a mandolin.
But flame, or a more reasonable shape for that matter, works just about as well as any other shape. Within reason, of course.

[Bertram Henze]

I'll say it would look reasonably good in two scenarios:
1 - the rest of the mandolin is arabesque in shape as well (repetition of patterns)
2 - the rest of the mandolin is simplistic and void of decorative shapes (one-of-a-kind)

Most of the OP photos are examples of #1.
Explorer's flame example would fit #2, but that's because it's an A-style. OTOH F-style has different decorative patterns all over (the normal f-holes are a quite good pattern repetition there) - that's why I think flame shapes would just break the style (like a check shirt under a dinner jacket), leaving you with zero net beauty.

[Willie Poole]

I had thought about having one made with sound holes shaped like lightning bolts...

Willie

[John Kelly]

What a shocking idea, Willie!

[Russ Donahue]

I had thought about having one made with sound holes shaped like lightning bolts...

Willie

Like this?

https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/s...irouard-Garcia

[Russ Donahue]

While I am at it...a few years ago there was a video posted of Max (?) playing "Friend of the Devil" on one of the early Garcia models. I think I am remembering this rightly...

If I am not imagining this, can anyone point me in the direction of that video? I've been looking high and low for it and been unable to find it. As I remember, it was set in a farmhouse...

Thanks in advance....

[Russ Donahue]

While I am at it...a few years ago there was a video posted of Max (?) playing "Friend of the Devil" on one of the early Garcia models. I think I am remembering this rightly...

If I am not imagining this, can anyone point me in the direction of that video? I've been looking high and low for it and been unable to find it. As I remember, it was set in a farmhouse...


I FOUND IT!

Here's the video I was thinking of:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf6ODDUuNEI


Thanks in advance....

I FOUND IT!

Here's the video I was thinking of:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf6ODDUuNEI

[sblock]

The sound is a mandolin is relatively insensitive to the exact shape (as opposed to the area) of the sound hole.

[TheArimathean]

In case any of you were curious as to the look, here's what the arabesque soundholes look like drawn onto a (roughly traced) F5 shape.
I think Bertram Henze was right about the style not quite meshing well with the F5 aesthetic.

[Jared Heddinger]

I'm really intrigued by the idea! There isn't much mandolin innovation of this sort!

I'm curious if it might mesh better with the aesthetic for an elongated scroll (a la Monteleone), with the flame detail echoed on the top of it.

[Graham McDonald]

The French had a bit of an interest in squiggly f-holes. Here is a page from a 1912 Laberte Humbert catalog and and a 1973 mandoline from the Gerome factory. Both from Mirecourt.

[Marty Jacobson]

I wouldn't give up on it... Try generating some forms which play around/within the boundaries of the traditional f-hole shape. So instead of being a direct translation, it would be more of an homage. I think there's potential there, but it will take some work.

[TheArimathean]

Marty, I like where your design is going. The soundholes have an expression like eyes/eyebrows on a face, and what you've drawn seems to capture more of the gentle expression that the F holes convey, whereas the arabesque holes superimposed directly on the mandolin looked rather angry.