Non Traditional F-Hole Love

**petermelton** · 12-04-2013, 03:38 AM

I for one love archtops with unique "f-hole" designs, unique being that they're not shaped like the letter "f." I'm getting an archtop custom built by a great local builder and I'm looking for ideas. I figured there's got to be other people that agree out there so post your favorites! Here are a few of mine.

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-moffa450-jpg

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-moffa450-jpg

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-bambinodeluxe-w-full1-jpg

**Laro** · 12-04-2013, 05:30 AM

I like these ones a lot :

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-_55-jpg

**disco~juice** · 12-04-2013, 06:16 AM

The Moffa Lorraine F holes are just beautiful...

Here is one not so crazy but still a little bit F : (Dan Koentopp Blue Line)
Non Traditional F-Hole Love-koentopp-jpg

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-koentopp-jpg

**DC Ron** · 12-04-2013, 06:48 AM

Cort Joe Beck 6. Guess a cat eye soundhole isn't exactly non-traditional, but then again...

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-p1_u0ni1f0pz_ss-jpg

**ES125er** · 12-04-2013, 09:20 AM

S-Holes?

**Woody Sound** · 12-04-2013, 09:35 AM

I prefer traditional with just a twist, so I really like the S-Holes (D'Aquisto, Sadowsky, etc).

**Tom Karol** · 12-04-2013, 09:56 AM

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-crafter-feg-780-jpg

**SamBooka** · 12-04-2013, 10:16 AM

whoa.. ok.. am I the ONLY one who thought the thread title was misleading??

**jasaco** · 12-04-2013, 12:31 PM

Yes.

**spiral** · 12-04-2013, 12:52 PM

The Moffa "seal holes" I thought were based on Hofners from the 50's, but when I went to go grab a photo I found out they are actually based on an instrument I'd never heard of: viola d'amore.

Hofner
Non Traditional F-Hole Love-1955_hofner_model_461-s_front-jpg

Non Traditional F-Hole Love-1955_hofner_model_461-s_front-jpg

Viola d'amore
Non Traditional F-Hole Love-viola-damore-custom_f-holes-jpg

There is also a Harmony Roy Smeck Vita with literal seal holes!
Non Traditional F-Hole Love-harmvitac1927_0627-jpg

other faves of mine...

Hoyer Bianka
Non Traditional F-Hole Love-bianka_org01-jpg

Michael McCarthy
Non Traditional F-Hole Love-dsc_0075-gif

**jckoto3** · 12-04-2013, 01:03 PM

^^ dat Hoyer Bianka ^^

can't . take . eyes . off . it . I feel like I need welding goggles and earplugs just to look at it, and I mean that in a good way.

More info for those as perplexed as I.

**Hammertone** · 12-04-2013, 01:24 PM

petermelton:

I'd say that at least 95% of the alternative soundhole designs can be found on vintage German-built archtop guitars.
As well, most of the American alternative soundhole designs can be found on the same vintage German-built archtop guitars, that preceded them by many years.

Go here and have some fun - you'll find many options:
http://www.euroguitars.co.uk/

**spiral** · 12-04-2013, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by jckoto3

^^ dat Hoyer Bianka ^^

can't . take . eyes . off . it . I feel like I need welding goggles and earplugs just to look at it, and I mean that in a good way.

I thought Hoyer reissued a few recently but can't find mention of it. Maybe it never happened or I was having a fever dream.

If you like the Bianka you might also like the Dagmar Jennie
http://www.dagmarcustomguitars.com/guitars.php
Non Traditional F-Hole Love-jennie2-jpg

**Klatu** · 12-04-2013, 01:33 PM

Gary Mortoro

Benedetto Custom Build

**Hammertone** · 12-04-2013, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by spiral

I thought Hoyer reissued a few recently but can't find mention of it. Maybe it never happened or I was having a fever dream.

Hoyer went out of business years ago. The trademark was revived by AMC (Michael Compernass) in Germany and used for cheap Korean-built guitars, including laminated archtops. A handful of German-built Hoyer archtops were built and displayed at the Messe, using old 17" archtop plates from Hollenbach and Roger, but not much happened with them. No 18" Biankas or Specials.

AMC subsequently did a deal in 2009 with Martin Ritter, and Korean Hoyers are available along with a handful of German-built models. The line comprises solid body reissues of the neck-through Hoyer Eagle and Hoyer Arrow (a Flying V design), along with a few other things. Really nice guitars, actually.

A group of Bianka copies was made in Japan a few years ago by Toru Fujii.
Here:
http://jazzgitarren.k-server.org/bianka2005e.html

**petermelton** · 12-04-2013, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

petermelton:

I'd say that at least 95% of the alternative soundhole designs can be found on vintage German-built archtop guitars.
As well, most of the American alternative soundhole designs can be found on the same vintage German-built archtop guitars, that preceded them by many years.

Go here and have some fun - you'll find many options:
http://www.euroguitars.co.uk/

Cool Forum! Thanks for the link!

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 12-04-2013, 04:46 PM

To steal from another current thread, the Eastman El Rey 4:

**GNAPPI** · 12-04-2013, 07:46 PM

I'll admit to being attracted to non-traditional "sound holes" and I have several. A Cort Jim Triggs (teardrop) Gretsch G3161 (cat eye) Gibson Vegas (diamond shape) Fender D'Aquisto (1/2 "F" like the Moffa Lorraine) But the bottom line is if I don't like playing them I sell them.

With all the technology out there you would think that someone would find out something about sound hole optimization that ancient minds couldn't hundreds of years ago?

**Woody Sound** · 12-04-2013, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by GNAPPI

With all the technology out there you would think that someone would find out something about sound hole optimization that ancient minds couldn't hundreds of years ago?

There is probably some optimal ratio of body volume to soundhole size, similar to cabinet/port size.