mattyfez
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My main instrument is: Martin DRS-1
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Post by mattyfez on Oct 9, 2013 12:41:49 GMT
During a ramble across the internet I came across this curious thing, a sound post. Had to look it up myself, its basically a brace, or maybe 'strut' would be more accurate that sits between the front and back of the instrument: linkInteresting that this seems to be a standard fixture on violins but never to my knowledge on guitars. Maybe its due to the size of the sound box, I wonder if things like mandolins have them, being smaller? If they have quite an impact on sound I was wondering why we don't see this on guitars, I know violins are a very different beast, I can only guess that it's maybe to do with it being played with a bow as opposed to plucked and maybe it wouldn't make any difference on a plucked instrument? it's aroused my curiosity now!
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Post by scripsit on Oct 9, 2013 12:56:10 GMT
I don't know, but I can guess. I think it has an impact on sound, because when you read about the examination of old and valuable violins, the position of the post is always one of the things measured. I remember once seeing a documentary on TV about a concert violinist who was having the sound post in his new violin adjusted to deal with a wolf note.
However, from seeing pictures of violins being built it seems it is also important structurally: the sound post is on the treble side, and directly supports the top there, while there is a big 'brace' running longitudinally along the bass side of the top which would have a similar strengthening effect to the bracing on an archtop guitar.
Do the big members of the family like the orchestral bass have them? And why are the sound holes shaped like an 'F'?
Kym
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Oct 9, 2013 12:57:00 GMT
No, that IS interesting! I think I might have heard something about these before, but I'm not sure about their supposed benefits, or why I haven't heard more about them in relation to other stringed instruments. Maybe a friendly neighbourhood luthier might come along and enlighten us?
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mattyfez
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My main instrument is: Martin DRS-1
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Post by mattyfez on Oct 9, 2013 13:23:44 GMT
Some further looking suggests some arch tops have a similar thing, as mentioned above, I'm guessing this is more structural support though from downward pressure on the bridge due to the way the strings are attached, which would be similar to a violin.
Maybe in that sense it's more a necessary evil to stop the instrument collapsing, and something that can be changed in shape or position slightly to fine tune the tone seeing as it's maybe got to be present in one form or another.
I suppose this would be surplus to requirement on a flat top as the bridge isn't being pushed into the body by the string tension.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Oct 9, 2013 13:48:10 GMT
The sound post is a necessary and important part of the sound production in bowed instruments - violins, violas, cellos, double bass etc. The are not to my knowledge commonly used or needed in plucked instruments with carved tops like arch-top guitars and carved top mandolins. One interesting link here: AGF Discussion
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crispy
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Post by crispy on Oct 11, 2013 12:51:23 GMT
A lot of hollow body Gretsch guitars use a sound post I think, the top of the range ones use trestle bracing. My G5122DC has one.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Oct 11, 2013 13:04:52 GMT
Hi crispy, and a warm welcome to the Forum. Hope you'll have fun here. Feel free to make a small introduction in th relevant section if you like. keith
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Post by keithambridge on Oct 11, 2013 13:05:33 GMT
A lot of hollow body Gretsch guitars use a sound post I think, the top of the range ones use trestle bracing. My G5122DC has one. I think (although not 100% sure) that the Gretsch's have a sort of sound post to support the immense pressure exerted by the Bigsby trem.
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Oct 11, 2013 13:29:16 GMT
A lot of hollow body Gretsch guitars use a sound post I think, the top of the range ones use trestle bracing. My G5122DC has one. I think (although not 100% sure) that the Gretsch's have a sort of sound post to support the immense pressure exerted by the Bigsby trem. Interesting - and shows how much I know about archtop guitars So it's there as a sort of acro-prop rather than a "sound" post then?
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Post by keithambridge on Oct 11, 2013 14:24:54 GMT
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davewhite
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Post by davewhite on Oct 11, 2013 15:01:24 GMT
Keith,
Even more interesting. They refer to "hollow body" instruments rather than acoustic so I'm wondering if this sort of bracing (tressle and sound-post) evolved more from hollow body electric guitars than from the bowed instruments like cellos and double bass. Did the early 1900's guitars of Orville Gibson have soundposts for example - he is credited as the originator with the carved top idea coming from mandolins so if they did then it is a tonal consideration. If they came in more in the 1950's (as the Gretch article seems to imply) then they probably have a more common evolutionary link to early electric guitars and the issues with feedback etc the article alludes to.
Interesting indeed.
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