#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Sound Holes

What effect do the number or size of sound holes have on the "unplugged" sound of a CBG? I currently have only one 1" sound hole and would like for it to be a bit louder.

Thanks, Sam

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tracy Tomlinson on April 6, 2010 at 2:15pm

My first build I just finished has two holes each the size of an egg and the volume is good. My wife can hear it from the bedroom at the other side of the house when I play in the livingroom. My 2 high strings sound banjoish and the lower pitched ones sound very guitarish. What blows me away is how it sustains a note for so long.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wade on April 6, 2010 at 4:16pm

It's a lot of work, but I've had success thinning the lids with a sander- got good volume out of a thinner top.

Wade

Iggy said:

I think I know the CBG you are talking about. That particular box has a lid that is somewhat thicker than the normal box, which is typically (roughly) 1/8 inch thick. Because the lid is a little thicker, it may not vibrate as easily, thus not create as much resonance as you might like.

You could possibly get more volume with more holes in the lid, but my understanding is that the more holes you drill, the more treble the sound is, and the less holes you drill, the more bassy the sound is.

You could also get one of those little battery powered amps and plug it in and crank the volume up!!! LOL

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Glenn Reither on July 26, 2010 at 2:16am

I've used side ports on 3 guitars. Two of them had F holes in the top as well. Side ports work just fine and give the player some acoustic oomph.

Alan Roberts said:

I've seen CBG where the top looked like a county road sign after a big sale on shotgun shells -- ie, shot full of holes. The physics is complicated, but a cliff notes version says that a soundboard can't vibrate if it looks like swiss cheese. Adding a second 1" hole couldn't hurt, but don't get carried away.

You might think about putting a second hole in the SIDE. That would direct the sound at the player, and not compromise the top. Just a stupid thought; I'm not sure if I'd try it on MINE, heh heh. But I've seen them on custom acoustic guitars.

I built a lyre once that had NO sound holes at all (see my photo section). A second lyre had a few small holes. both based on 1,000 year old examples. But Not much difference in volumn.