Original soundhole

[Mement0o]

Hi everyone,

I'm intrigued by the look of it. Found on an online fleamarket.



Does anyone have any information about this mandolin? I can't read if there is any brand but maybe someone has already seen something similar somewhere.

Thank you!

[Seter]

That's about the size of the soundhole on my balalaika.

[Mement0o]

Would you know how it affects the sound of the instrument ?

[red7flag]

Not being qualified to respond I got this from Tahoeguitar on The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum -
So for any given size guitar (let's go with a D) reducing soundhole size will make it sound boomier and bassier, and enlarging the soundhole will increase treble response, and make a guitar "cut through the mix" better. This is because of a thing called a "hemholz resonance" which has to do with how the air in the box pulses in and out of the soundhole. It's complicated and I don't pretend to understand the physics, but this is a simplified version of statements I've read from builders who do understand the physics.

[Mement0o]

Well thank you, that's a start!

[pops1]

Since the ff holes are already there this would be like enlarging the sound holes. I don't think it would add any depth to the mandolin like an oval hole sound, but then who knows. It would be interesting to block the hole and listen with just the ff holes then open and listen again.

[Mement0o]

I have the opportunity to test it in a few days! I'll tell you about that ff-o holes.