Holes in side of acoustic?

[tourettes5139]

link

Just saw this picture, and I was wondering something. What is the purpose of the holes in the side of this guitar? Are they just auxilliary soundholes or something?

Thanks!

 

[TroyHutson]

probably for sound (don't know why though) or maybe to get string ends and pics out of there? haha

 

[Anfontan]

Call Orkin man!

An infestation of huge termites!!!!

 

[andyhix]

It's so you can use your guitar body as an ashtray without bumping your cig or joint or stogie on the strings. duh!

 

[rpe]

It's an alternative design. I've read that you can really hear what the guitar sounds like with the sound hole(s) pointing up at you versus the conventional placement.

rpe

 

[Treeline]

These are side ports that alter the sound heard by the performer. The idea is that the performer will hear something closer to what is in front in a live unamplified or studio context. A port also changes the resonant characteristics of the instrument, much as a vented port on a studio monitor will. However, because most of these instruments have a traditional soundhole, a side port is not necessary for the instrument to function. Because most of the sound resonates from the front of the instrument and not from the "soundhole," there is not a direct correlation here. But a side port will change the sound.

Side ports have become all the rage in high end instruments over the last few years and buiders are doing a lot of experimentation. One such builder is John Monteleone, who builds an archtop guitar he calls the "quattroport" with four ports, including sliding doors/closures which allow tone to be messed with.



Monteleone Guitars Quattroport

 

[tourettes5139]

Cool! Thanks for the responses. From everyone.