Post
by Craig » Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:23 pm
G'day Matt,
The soundport is a first for me . I think it would be very suitable on a bass as you are a fair ways away from the soundholes.
Others have reported it to be subtle, but I beg to differ. To me, it's really in your face . You "hear "the instrument . I don't play with it closed , so that should tell you something. Being a piano tuner , maybe I'm more sensitive to tonal changes.
I calculated my main soundhole to be a little smaller to allow for the extra opening . The soundport when open , raises the main resonance a semi tone, but I can't detect any drop in bass response . I asked my son ( my only audience at this stage ) if he noticed any change out front , and he reckons if there is, it's hardly noticeable. It's as a player you notice it most . I backed the soundport area with three veneers .
Alan Carruth has performed a lot of testing on soundports and reports no real increase in volume ( About 1 d.b. ) . He has also found some of the higher frquencies to be more pronounced . When playing , it does appear much louder however. Seems more 'full' in the tonal sector.
The soundport affect varies according to how close it is placed to the main soundhole/s . Closer the better. The upper bout shoulder seems to work well.,,, Hey ,I think I'm sold on the idea , but don't think I'll be drilling holes in all my other instruments any time soon . Better to build and design the instrument with a soundport in mind .
You might be the first bass builder to have a soundport !