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Any opinions about building a sound port in a guitar made for playing amplified in a performance setting? Does it affect tendency to feedback? Can a musician playing with a lot of other amplified instruments still benefit from the port ? These guys have a sophisticated sound system with good monitors.

My goal in considering a port is that he will be able to hear the sound of his guitar better....is this only true when playing unplugged? And are there any disadvantages to it in a case like this?

Thanks!

Beth, there are a ton of searchable opinions out there on the effects of soundports. FWIW, I recently built one with a cover
viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=36286&st=0&sk=t&sd=a
Certainly in a personal setting (ie non-performance) the amplified guitar has more "sparkle" with the port open. ( found almost more of a difference, at least for this guitar, than unamplified, which surprised me). My guess is that would be lost in a stage setting, but who knows. The cover makes a nice little option and the decision easy.

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Dave
Milton, ON

I've played one with a sound port in a performance setting for several years and have noticed no difference in feedback susceptibility between this guitar and other non-sound port guitars; more importantly, the sound guys have not noted any difference either. I usually play in an orchestra setting with in-ear monitors but when we go out and play un-miked as a small gospel group I find the sound port lets me hear myself a bit better. Definitely a plus when you play in a one or two guitar mix.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Pro - you can see inside the guitar very easy.
Con - you can see inside the guitar very easy.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

And that's why there'll be no soundport on my current build.

Depends on the sound port

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I agree with Steve... several pros and cons depend on the soundport design.

Here another pro which does not work with any design:



On a more serious note: I would not think too much in a pros/cons scheme. If you think you might like it just do it and choose a design that pleases you. Then see what you believe that happened (or did not happen).

I am not an amplifying expert at all but I would expect that a soundport plays a lesser role in feedback than the soundhole in the top because it does not point towards the monitor or main boxes. This is just what my guts tell me, no science behind that. I might be wrong, and in this case you might use the soundport as per instructions in the picture above.

I'll be sure to fish my pick out BEFORE I insert my beer can! Thanks guys! I like the closable option, too.

Give somewhere for sweat to go on hot days.

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Another day, another dollar.

One man's sound port is another man's rocky hazard.

...or should I not say "man"?....

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

A soundport is a great place to keep a snack like Jujubee's or carrot sticks if you get hungry while playing!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Beth,
The soundport is great for unplugged sound. It will make no difference at all when playing on stage.
BTW - If you want a great pick up that is very resistant to feedback, check out the PUTW active dual source.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Thanks Steve, I'll do that.

My opinion, based on measurements of the output of guitars with and without ports, is that the port is probably most useful as a 'monitor' in noisy or 'dead' rooms, where you don't get the feedback of high frequency reflections from the walls. I'm gathering some data on that now, and while the preliminary results seem to favor that reasoning, there are complications (as there always are with guitars), and I'll need more data to be sure. As always, stay tuned...