f-Holes
© Frank Ford, 9/6/98 Photos by FF
These soundholes are not just here for decoration.
The f-hole has been a standard of the violin world for more than 300 years:
Now, it's the standard of the arch top jazz guitar and mandolin world, too:
Attractive as they may be, they are also very significant in tone production. Their position near the edges of the soundboard allow the bridge to be located more nearly in the center, with the result that more of the top area is involved in sound production. With a central round hole, the bridge must be placed downward toward the endblock.
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