Official Luthiers Forum! http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
The control freak! http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=39256 |
Page 1 of 2 |
Author: | Chris Ensor [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 9:44 am ] |
Post subject: | The control freak! |
A while ago I was thinking about experimenting on a build. I was sitting on a plane, thinking about my favorite old TLR camera. I had been wanting to figure out a way to do an adjustable sound hole on a guitar- hoping to allow the player to focus the sound in one direction or another. I decided to try to adapt the leaf style aperture from my TLR to this project and make an aperture for the guitar. The "sound hole aperture" took over a year to fully design and make functional. I made it out of spruce and other light materials to keep the weight down. The device had to be installed before the box was closed, which made the finish process "interesting" around the sound hole. Overall, the sound hole aperture does effect the tone slightly, but it is more noticeable to the player than to the audience in front of the instrument. The additional weight on the top dampens the sound enough (even with a lightly braced top and a light weight bridge) that the guitar sounds a bit thin. So this one falls more in the form than the function category. Not all experiments turn out the way we want or expected, but that doesn't mean I didn't learn anything! It was fun and gets me excited for my next experimental guitar. Attachment: control freak.jpg For a full write up and more pics check out my website: http://www.ensorguitars.com/zebra_sitka_gallery.html Also on my website is a video: http://www.ensorguitars.com/zebra_sitka_video.html Thanks for looking. |
Author: | Casey Cochran [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:06 am ] |
Post subject: | The control freak! |
Now that's thinking outside, err uh, inside the box. Cool idea! |
Author: | Mike OMelia [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:12 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Just a thought, maybe you could mount the aperture mechanism to the back? Mike |
Author: | jfmckenna [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:47 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Well it is quite a beautiful sculpture regardless of tone. You could always remove the experimental work if you don't like it. Ramirez built a guitar he called De Cámara which had an 'apature' built along the rims about in their mid point. Almost like an interior top with a huge sound cut out. A baffle of sorts. Anyway kudos to any luthier who experiments. When I did experiments years ago I never took the time to make them look good. |
Author: | Quine [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 1:51 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Oh great....now I also have to worry about f-stops when I play ![]() Must be a very cool mechanism in there. I'd love to see more of it |
Author: | mqbernardo [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:24 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
it looks wonderful! congrats! |
Author: | ZekeM [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:42 pm ] |
Post subject: | The control freak! |
Mike O'Melia wrote: Just a thought, maybe you could mount the aperture mechanism to the back? Mike Or a mini one for a sound port! It would have no dampening to the top and would be cool! |
Author: | Mark Herd [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:02 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Way cool! |
Author: | B. Howard [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:14 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Impressive! |
Author: | Chris Ensor [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:33 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
ZekeM, Actually it does have a sliding door on the soundport, which makes a very clear difference in the bass response for the player. |
Author: | Alex Kleon [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 6:06 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Looks like it'll eat guitar picks! ![]() Alex |
Author: | Tony_in_NYC [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:20 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Very cool Chris! Since the aperture is not traditional, another way to make it dampen the top less would be to move the sound hole to the upper bass bout. Have you thought of that? Then there is the option of suspending it from the rim so you keep the traditional sound hole location. The possibilities are...not quite endless, but there is certainly more than one other option now! It looks cool as h-e-double-hockey-sticks though! I like the guitar too. Very nice looking in all respects! |
Author: | Beth Mayer [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:38 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
The aperture is extremely cool, but. There are so many incredible features on this instrument. I particularly love the painless bridge with straight saddle and offset string holes. The cutaway and bevels are beautiful too. Amazing, |
Author: | ZekeM [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 12:06 pm ] |
Post subject: | The control freak! |
Chris Ensor wrote: ZekeM, Actually it does have a sliding door on the soundport, which makes a very clear difference in the bass response for the player. cool! You jus thought of everything then! |
Author: | dzsmith [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:36 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Very cool! Awesome craftmanship. I'd like to see China try to copy this! |
Author: | EddieLee [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:54 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Love that ![]() ![]() |
Author: | mkellyvrod [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:29 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
What does this guitar not have? Sculpture was the right word. I think James Bond would be proud to own this guitar. ![]() ![]() |
Author: | Mike OMelia [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:27 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
I should have added that your craftsmanship is amazing. Beautiful guitar. And one with an F stop none the less!! |
Author: | Dennis E. [ Fri Feb 08, 2013 10:31 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Chris, that's a beautiful rendition of an interesting idea. An alternate approach might be to switch to Waterhouse stops. If you used thin carbon fiber disks and cam-locked them in place using lightweight studs in the top, you could greatly reduce the weight issue. Of course, that's not nearly as cool as a continuously variable soundhole! |
Author: | dpm99 [ Sat Feb 09, 2013 1:28 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Sounds pretty darn good to me. Is there any chance of a follow up video demonstrating the differences in sound when you open and close the aperture? |
Author: | phil [ Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:28 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Chris, that's an impressive idea and some brilliant execution. I don't know how much weight you needed to mount on to the sound board to make the aperture work, but I'm guessing that the size of the arm bevel, the size of your bridge, and the size of the sound port all contribute to keep the box from sounding to its potential. You've basically shrunk the size of the sound board, stiffened it up, and maybe given the box too much air. I think that each of these factors would lean a guitar's sound away from round and warm. Because I see genius at work in your aperture idea I'd be curious to know how another guitar would sound with it if that other guitar had no arm bevel and a traditional size bridge. Sorry for sounding to critique-y. There really is some genius in your idea. Phil |
Author: | Chris Ensor [ Sun Feb 10, 2013 10:02 am ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Thanks for all the replies. Phil, I very much appreciate your analysis of my guitar. The intention of the aperture was to allow the player to shape the tonal signature of the guitar (more mids, trebels, or basses) for whatever particular song or sound they want at the moment. Knowing that the aperture would add significant weight (I think it was 120g), I went for a more active, lightly braced top. I left the lower bout braces (all of them) uncoupled. I also went with a light weight bridge- 27g. (On a side note, the wenge bridge was so porous that when I was gluing it on, some glued came up through the top of the bridge on the wings!) The armrest does significantly reduce the active area of the top on the bass side, but from my experience, this doesn't normally "dampen" the sound of the top as much as reduce the "boomyness" of the guitar. Since the top of this guitar is now closer to the width at the LB of my parlor, I could understand if it sounded similar to my parlor, but that is not the case. Also, having a cantilevered neck normally adds a bit more volume and sustain to the body. That is the case in this guitar. I know it sounds odd, but the guitar sounds a bit choked and loud at the same time. Back to the main point, the aperture: the device helps to focus the sound in the mids slightly, but it is really only noticeable to the player. The dampening effect that it has on the top is the largest problem (also the fact that it would be extremely expensive due to how many hours it takes to pull off). I think Tony had the best idea- moving it to the UB. But unless I have someone specifically inquire about it on a guitar, I won't be adding it to my list of options anytime soon. All these observations are based on the guitar being strung up for less than a week. I will be interested to see how it matures with more time under tension. |
Author: | Ti-Roux [ Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:50 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Really nice work, and ingenius idea! ![]() Mike O'Melia wrote: I should have added that your craftsmanship is amazing. Beautiful guitar. And one with an F stop none the less!! What exactly do you mean by F stop? |
Author: | Mike OMelia [ Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:03 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Ti-Roux wrote: Really nice work, and ingenius idea! ![]() Mike O'Melia wrote: I should have added that your craftsmanship is amazing. Beautiful guitar. And one with an F stop none the less!! What exactly do you mean by F stop? Cameras use something called F stop, aperture setting. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number#section_2 Though its not entirely an accurate use if the term, since focal length means nothing in guitars. ![]() |
Author: | Ti-Roux [ Sun Feb 10, 2013 1:10 pm ] |
Post subject: | Re: The control freak! |
Mike O'Melia wrote: Ti-Roux wrote: Really nice work, and ingenius idea! ![]() Mike O'Melia wrote: I should have added that your craftsmanship is amazing. Beautiful guitar. And one with an F stop none the less!! What exactly do you mean by F stop? Cameras use something called F stop, aperture setting. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number#section_2 Though its not entirely an accurate use if the term, since focal length means nothing in guitars. ![]() ![]() I was looking around on the guitar : ''What the heck is a F stop...?!" Makes sens now. |
Page 1 of 2 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |