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Those of you who've succeeded in solving the archtop feedback dilemma, what have you used to stuff your f-holes that actually worked - pieces of foam ? One single piece of foam ? A kids t-shirt ? Something else ?
Ran into the issue this past weekend at a show, would like to try something that dosen't include the custom made[ and expensive] foam f-hole fillers I found online unless I absolutely have to.
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02-29-2016 03:10 PM
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upholstery cotton ala Pat Martino's early records.
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the $50 I spent for a pair of Doug's Plugs for my L-5 is about the best $50 I've ever spent on a guitar accessory.
they've been in the guitar for over 10 yrs--no more feedback. so far they've only cost me $5 a year and no more string dampening/palming.
some use a certain type of tape, but I'd shy away from that as they can react w/certain guitar finishes.
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I was an early Guinea pig for Dougs Plugs and love them. I have 2 sets on order at this moment. They look great, go on and out easily, and work well.
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Benson uses clear scotch tape over the f holes.
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If you're having to stuff your guitar, then you're using the wrong guitar. Get a semi-hollow or a solid body.
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Found this terrific resource..
Dealing with Archtop feedback
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Surely you're kidding. Any kind of hollow body will have, from time to time, feedback. Kenny Burrel "stuffed" his guitar at one time. Was he playing the wrong guitar?
Originally Posted by Cunamara
But I know you're just joking around with us.
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Seriously, folks, once you try "Doug's Plugs" you'll have found the solution. Elegant, attractive, easy, effective.
He hand makes each set specifically for your guitar.
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For a short term solution, rubber balloons in the cavity and a soundpost wedged under the top help. I have read of some folks stuffing the guitar with loose cushion or pillow stuffing.
If you're handy you can fashion your own f-hole plugs out of balsa wood or EVA foam or Styrofoam. You may get balsa wood from an aeromodelling supply shop.
I'd just pay Doug $60 and get bunged. Maybe I'd go to China and have a copy made and name it Huang's Bungs.
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I used low tack masking tape. Kept a roll in my guitar case.
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unbuttered popcorn
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A designer friend did some software plugs for my two arhctops. I then bought some efa foam and some balsa that my luhtier painted to look like ebony. Next step was founding a company with a CNC machine and voila - had some plugs. Total cost is like 20€ for two pairs of plugs (one foam, one balsa) - designer friend did not charged anything though.
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Wrong...Pat Martino stuffed his guitars on all the early albums And sounded amazing. It's a very distinctive sound and it requires a full hollowbody to get this sound. Originally Posted by Cunamara
and I tried plugs and they don't work for the loudest gigs. I was doing some gigs with an organ trio with saxophone and the sax was playing through the house system and the drummer was pretty loud and it was a small stage. The plugs couldn't keep the guitar from feeding back which was happening because the drums were causing the top to vibrate.
Stuffing the guitar was the only solution. And it sounded great. I actually preferred the stuffed sound. Much like the clip I posted above.
paul bollenback and I talked about plugs a couple times. He also was unable to totally tame the feedback with plugs but he (and benson) use packing tape which works better because it also dampens the top around the f-holes which is one of the primary areas that feeds back on an archtop.Last edited by jzucker; 03-01-2016 at 08:26 AM.
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This solution is beginning to resonate with me- sorry, couldn't resist the pun.
Low tack masking tape seems the easiest approach, albeit maybe not the most elegant.
Originally Posted by Bach5G
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unfortunately, masking tape is not as effective as packing tape. If you search around, you can find packing tape that does not stick as hard as the industrial versions. Originally Posted by electricfactory
FWIW, I have used packing tape on my '63 Gibson Barney Kessel with no issues.
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Buy a cheap set of black flip flops and cut plugs to match your f-holes. Cost you less than $10.00 and they're easily installed and removed. If you do it right, it's not even noticed from a distance.
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That ain't even close to enough! When I studied with Pat Martino, he helped me stuff my Johnny Smith which he later traded for. We used 10 yards of cotton upholstery stuffing. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
http://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Uholste...lstery+batting
http://www.amazon.com/Bonded-Dacron-...CJKCQXZZAF4RK4
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Dang...that guitar hadda weigh 15 pounds...
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Natural Acoustics Loudspeaker Wool - The Woolly Shepherd
I used to use carded sheep's wool to stuff the insides of hifi loudspeaker cabinets to kill standing waves. Too much of it killed the sound and overdamped the loudspeakers. I suppose the same principle applies to stuffing an archtop guitar. I bought a 5 -pound bag for a pair of 24" tall loudspeakers with spun aluminium cones, Ted Jordan, if I recall. Used 2 to 3 pounds of it for both speakers. Had 2+ pounds left over. A little goes a long way.
Not necessarily shilling this vendor. Using him as an example. Seems like a knowledgeable fellow. There are similar vendors the world over serving the DIY hifi market.
I think even Pat Martino could overdo things. One just needs enough to kill the standing waves. As for why carded sheep's wool works better than artificial fibre I'll leave you to do the research. Hint: can't beat nature.
Then tape over the f-holes like George Benson does...Last edited by Jabberwocky; 03-01-2016 at 04:27 PM.
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Probably close to 12. I remember playing a friend's 1972 Les Paul at the time and it was lighter than my L5. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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I felt that the low tack masking tape was the least likely to damage the finish of the guitar. I removed it after each rehearsal/gig.
I also thought the blue tape sounded better than the green.
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Martino's tone on those early albums is to die for. When I stuffed my L5 during the same period, I went "light" and only bought a 5 yard length of the upholstery stuffing and Martino stuck his finger in the F-Hole and told me it should be as hard as a rock.
Hard to argue with that tone. Listen to his tone now and his tone on Lean Years or El Hombre. And remember, that tone scaled to *ANY* volume level.
The benson method is very different because it does not change the sound of the guitar through an amp much if at all whereas the martino method does. However, f-hole tape doesn't solve the problem for extremely loud situations. The martino situation does. Back when I had my Ibanez Metheny PM-120, I stuffed it with 5 yards of cotton (it's a smaller instrument) and I used that guitar on some rock and fusion gigs and ZERO feedback. It sounded great too.
Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
Last edited by jzucker; 03-01-2016 at 04:50 PM.
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