Doug's Plugs is out of business. Any alternatives?

[jzucker]

[edit] I heard back from Victor Baker. He does not make f-hole plugs any longer.

[wintermoon]

Just get some foam, glue and an exacto knife

[Sunil]

Right idea, wrong hole.

That's what she said!

[sgosnell]

Someone must be doing it. Saw Bollenback on Vignola's Guitar Night a week or two ago, and he had what looked like a new Benedetto Bravo with plugs in it. Didn't really need them for that gig, but maybe it's too much trouble to take them out after an organ trio gig. First time I've seen him with the Bravo, it's usually a Bambino with no f holes.

[jzucker]

That's weird considering he was the one who told me plugs didn't work and always had packing tape on his archtops

Someone must be doing it. Saw Bollenback on Vignola's Guitar Night a week or two ago, and he had what looked like a new Benedetto Bravo with plugs in it. Didn't really need them for that gig, but maybe it's too much trouble to take them out after an organ trio gig. First time I've seen him with the Bravo, it's usually a Bambino with no f holes.

[rpjazzguitar]

You'd send him a drawing/outline of your f holes and he'd cut something out of a material like the sole of a flipflop (probably not exactly that). I don't know if he had it flanged to fit in better. Seems to me you could try to do it with an exacto knife, a pair of flip flops and some thought about how to cut a flange into it. Buy size 16 and you might get multiple plugs from each shoe.

[wintermoon]

You'd send him a drawing/outline of your f holes and he'd cut something out of a material like the sole of a flipflop (probably not exactly that). I don't know if he had it flanged to fit in better. Seems to me you could try to do it with an exacto knife, a pair of flip flops and some thought about how to cut a flange into it. Buy size 16 and you might get multiple plugs from each shoe.

Already noted earlier.
But you can buy the high density foam w out going flip flops.
Doug's plugs consist of an 1/8" thick piece of said foam cut slightly larger than the f hole to prevent it from falling inside and a thick plug mounted underneath cut just small enough to fit in the hole w out falling out.
Not really rocket science if you have a little time to spare.

[Litterick]

Three hours later, you are tending your wounds and wishing you could just call Doug.

[sgosnell]

That's weird considering he was the one who told me plugs didn't work and always had packing tape on his archtops

Damn, my memory has failed me again. It was Dave Stryker, not Paul Bollenback.

[lawson-stone]

Three hours later, you are tending your wounds and wishing you could just call Doug.

So true. Doug made enough of these things that he could do it and produce something that worked well, looked nice, and was zero hassle. Home-made plugs always seem to be missing something from the formula! I was the first person to use the plugs some years back--Doug is an acquaintance of mine--and he test-fired several versions on me as he worked out the system combining a tight fit with not dropping through the F-hole into the guitar. I still use the plugs when i play out, which isn't very much anymore.

[AZJoe]

I make these if any one is interested on my CNC, American Made.

Carpenter Guitar and Ampworks | Reverb

[jzucker]

I make these if any one is interested on my CNC, American Made.

Carpenter Guitar and Ampworks | Reverb

Hi, i messaged you but didn't hear back...

[AZJoe]

Carpenter Guitars Custom F-Hole Anti Feedback Plugs black Carpenter Guitars Custom F-Hole Anti Feedback Plugs black | Reverb

[sgosnell]

So nice he posted it twice. And the cats are a bonus.

[wintermoon]

So nice he posted it twice. And the cats are a bonus.

agree about the cats being a bonus, but not everyone thinks so.
I'd consider leaving them out of photos for biz purposes.

[sgosnell]

Note to self - many more emojis next time.

[RJVB]

Carpenter Guitars Custom F-Hole Anti Feedback Plugs black

That kinda looks like EVA foam, is that what it is? I was warned on another site to check if it didn't interact with nitro finish when I asked about making a soundport plug out of that substance.

Works great for that purpose btw, but I can see why you'd want to cut it on a CNC machine. Hand-cutting works but it's a RPITA to make a nice shape if you're working with the kind of thickness you need for making plugs!

It also looks like you need to be really careful not to push them through the holes with this design, or is there a "ledge" on the top side?

[sgosnell]

The ones I've seen have a ledge on top. It makes the f holes look larger than they are. I suppose that might be a feature for some.

[AZJoe]

I make them out to a dense but flexible neoprene foam material probably similar to EVA foam. They are 0.5" with a depth of 0.375" and a 0.125" lip so they don't fall into the hole. Made in Arizona in my shop.

[wintermoon]

Just a minor suggestion if you're so inclined--try making a pair out of EVA, they tend to have a little smoother look and the edges look sharper, makes for a slicker looking finished product.
Its part of the reason I like my old set of Dougs Plugs. Again, just a suggestion....

[AZJoe]

I'm still making f-hole baffles if your interested.

The Marketplace for Musicians | Reverb.com

[jboynton]

I’ve purchased many Doug’s Plugs. Have an old pair in Gibson L-4 and love the job they do. I play in an 18 piece big bad and we play loud. As an alternative I have used pillow batting. I stuff enough in the f hold to breach the top. No need to fill the body only around the f holes. I then cut shinny black fabric and line the f hole between the pillow batting and bottom side of the top plate so you can’t tell anything is in the instrument. I have this currently in an ES-330. Works perfectly even at a big band volume. And it’s a cheap alternative for sure.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I’ve made plugs out of various foams for years. They work fine, but they look a little crude and they protrude enough to dislodge every once in a while if I brush against one with my hand or arm.

A few months ago, I got the idea to cut covers from self adhesive pickguard material, and they work great. I get no feedback at all, even playing right in front of my big amps. They’re invisible from a few feet away, and they stay put.

I only use them on my poly finished Ibanez. I’m not comfortable that long term use or placing and removing them frequently wouldn’t cause noticeable change in the finish on my Eastman 810, which is old enough to have what they called a French Polish finish in their marketing material when it was new. I haven’t made them for my TrueTone finished Jazz Elite either, since TT is said to be very thin. But I strongly doubt that the thick poly on the AF207 will be affected at all. It’s my regular working archtop, and at 28 years old it’s still looking and playing great. I’ll take off the covers in another few months and see if there’s been any effect on the finish.

[arnie65]

I've own two sets from Joe Carpenter, and he does a descent job, as long as your tracing is good. You can message him on Reverb.

Just a moment...



Cheers,
Arnie...