SurfGuitar101.com | Forums: The Origin of the Soundhole

PolloGuitar

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5080
San Francisco
United States

Posted on Apr 01 2020 03:11 PM

IRL, I'm a shop teacher and one job is teaching 6th graders how to build instruments. I tell them this story every year. Well, I have lots of downtime, so I made a video of my take. The video covers a lot of ground... no conspiracy theories, but I come pretty close. Enjoy.

—

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SilverFlash

Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 472
Near Atlanta, GA
United States

Posted on Apr 01 2020 04:18 PM

Hi Ferenc, That is brilliant! Do you prefer to be called a Renaissance man or a polymath? It's your choice, because it is obvious you are both.

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-Tim
MyYouTubeChannel
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simoncoil

Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 897
Berlin, Germany
1 News Pin

Posted on Apr 02 2020 02:22 AM

Well done, Ferenc! It reminds me of the BBC programme "Connections", but I don't know how much of it is meant seriously given the date it was posted.

I learned (and forgot) a bit about Renaissance mathematics when I studied history of science, and eventually I even wrote my master thesis on the different concepts of celestial harmony in the works of Johannes Kepler and Athanasius Kircher. But don't worry, I will resist to make a long and boring comment about historical accuracy here.

Considering the shape of the sound hole: Couldn't it be, that the f-shape is just a modificaion of the C-shape, the lower part being flipped around, so that it fits the narrower body shape?

—

Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

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TommyD

Joined: Feb 11, 2008
Posts: 85
Salina, Kansas
United States

Posted on Apr 02 2020 07:37 AM

Thank you for sharing that. It was entertaining and informative. Your students are lucky to have you as their teacher.

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PolloGuitar

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 5080
San Francisco
United States

Posted on Apr 03 2020 11:27 AM

thanks for watching and the kind words!
Simon, I know there's some inaccuracies, but this is a quick overview for 6th graders (10-11 years old). I, too, was a big fan of "Connections"!!
As for changing the shape from C to f, I agree with you. The f is more elegant and Italiante, and better suits the shape of the violin.

—

Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp
Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp
My Blog- Euro Tour Blog
Pool Boys on Spotify
INSTAGRAM
Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB
Pollo Del Mar on FB
DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio

Top

simoncoil

Joined: Sep 28, 2012
Posts: 897
Berlin, Germany
1 News Pin

Posted on Apr 03 2020 12:22 PM

PolloGuitar wrote:

I know there's some inaccuracies, but this is a quick overview for 6th graders (10-11 years old).

And that's why I'll keep my mouth shut. Interesting young people in a topic such as this definitely justifies simplifying things. They will meet people who know everything to the smallest detail soon enough in their lifes.

BTW, since the Renaissance is also the time of the rediscovery of the Hermetic philosophy and other symbolical and analogy-based interpretations of the world, it is also possible, that instrument makers really thought f-holes would have to to be louder since they resembled the forte-symbol.

—

Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin)
"Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms!
"Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records!

Last edited: Apr 03, 2020 14:00:42

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DannySnyder

Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11010
Berkeley, CA
United States

Posted on Apr 03 2020 07:23 PM

Speaking of Connections, a show I loved too. I've been watching a show on Netflix called Everyday Miracles, which has a similar approach. The host explains the history and stories around all the various materials that make up modern life. Very enjoyable.

—

Danny Snyder

Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF
_
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo

I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta

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da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1299
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on May 14 2020 07:17 AM

Great video Ferenc!

I find it odd that acoustic guitars almost exclusively have round sound holes. Guitars with f holes were more popular in the 1940's and 50's, but the are unpopular today.

There is a local luthier that showed me the guitar he made that had two horns rather than a sound hole - treble notes went out one horn and bass notes went out a separate horn. Incredible craftsmanship but it seemed to make a simple thing complicated and I struggled to hear much difference. Amongst all the other parameters in the creation of musical instruments - ease of manufacturing is also very important

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

Last edited: May 14, 2020 07:18:01

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homerhead

Joined: Mar 17, 2006
Posts: 525
Portland, OR
5 Contributor Pins

Posted on May 14 2020 04:23 PM

Great! And nice Discworld subliminal there too.

—

Rick

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SurfGuitar101 Forums » The Shallow End »

The Origin of the Soundhole - my take...

PolloGuitar Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 5080 San Francisco	Posted on Apr 01 2020 03:11 PM IRL, I'm a shop teacher and one job is teaching 6th graders how to build instruments. I tell them this story every year. Well, I have lots of downtime, so I made a video of my take. The video covers a lot of ground... no conspiracy theories, but I come pretty close. Enjoy. — Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp My Blog- Euro Tour Blog Pool Boys on Spotify INSTAGRAM Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB Pollo Del Mar on FB DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio Top
SilverFlash Joined: Jul 14, 2015 Posts: 472 Near Atlanta, GA	Posted on Apr 01 2020 04:18 PM Hi Ferenc, That is brilliant! Do you prefer to be called a Renaissance man or a polymath? It's your choice, because it is obvious you are both. — -Tim MyYouTubeChannel My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline SSS Agent #777 Top
simoncoil Joined: Sep 28, 2012 Posts: 897 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Apr 02 2020 02:22 AM Well done, Ferenc! It reminds me of the BBC programme "Connections", but I don't know how much of it is meant seriously given the date it was posted. I learned (and forgot) a bit about Renaissance mathematics when I studied history of science, and eventually I even wrote my master thesis on the different concepts of celestial harmony in the works of Johannes Kepler and Athanasius Kircher. But don't worry, I will resist to make a long and boring comment about historical accuracy here. Considering the shape of the sound hole: Couldn't it be, that the f-shape is just a modificaion of the C-shape, the lower part being flipped around, so that it fits the narrower body shape? — Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin) "Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms! "Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records! Top
TommyD Joined: Feb 11, 2008 Posts: 85 Salina, Kansas	Posted on Apr 02 2020 07:37 AM Thank you for sharing that. It was entertaining and informative. Your students are lucky to have you as their teacher. Top
PolloGuitar Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 5080 San Francisco	Posted on Apr 03 2020 11:27 AM thanks for watching and the kind words! Simon, I know there's some inaccuracies, but this is a quick overview for 6th graders (10-11 years old). I, too, was a big fan of "Connections"!! As for changing the shape from C to f, I agree with you. The f is more elegant and Italiante, and better suits the shape of the violin. — Buy Speed of Dark @ Bandcamp Buy Spin the Bottle @ Bandcamp My Blog- Euro Tour Blog Pool Boys on Spotify INSTAGRAM Frankie & The Pool Boys on FB Pollo Del Mar on FB DJ Frankie Pool Boy on North Sea Surf Radio Top
simoncoil Joined: Sep 28, 2012 Posts: 897 Berlin, Germany	Posted on Apr 03 2020 12:22 PM PolloGuitar wrote: I know there's some inaccuracies, but this is a quick overview for 6th graders (10-11 years old). And that's why I'll keep my mouth shut. Interesting young people in a topic such as this definitely justifies simplifying things. They will meet people who know everything to the smallest detail soon enough in their lifes. BTW, since the Renaissance is also the time of the rediscovery of the Hermetic philosophy and other symbolical and analogy-based interpretations of the world, it is also possible, that instrument makers really thought f-holes would have to to be louder since they resembled the forte-symbol. — Los Apollos - cinematic surf music trio (Berlin) "Postcards from the Scrapyard" Vol. 1, 2 & 3 NOW available on various platforms! "Chaos at the Lobster Lounge" available as LP and download on Surf Cookie Records! Last edited: Apr 03, 2020 14:00:42 Top
DannySnyder Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11010 Berkeley, CA	Posted on Apr 03 2020 07:23 PM Speaking of Connections, a show I loved too. I've been watching a show on Netflix called Everyday Miracles, which has a similar approach. The host explains the history and stories around all the various materials that make up modern life. Very enjoyable. — Danny Snyder Latest project - Now That's What I Call SURF _ "With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo I'm back playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1299 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on May 14 2020 07:17 AM Great video Ferenc! I find it odd that acoustic guitars almost exclusively have round sound holes. Guitars with f holes were more popular in the 1940's and 50's, but the are unpopular today. There is a local luthier that showed me the guitar he made that had two horns rather than a sound hole - treble notes went out one horn and bass notes went out a separate horn. Incredible craftsmanship but it seemed to make a simple thing complicated and I struggled to hear much difference. Amongst all the other parameters in the creation of musical instruments - ease of manufacturing is also very important — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Last edited: May 14, 2020 07:18:01 Top
homerhead Joined: Mar 17, 2006 Posts: 525 Portland, OR	Posted on May 14 2020 04:23 PM Great! And nice Discworld subliminal there too. — Rick Top