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Acoustic guitar sound board with tone knobs

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  • Acoustic guitar sound board with tone knobs

    Do tone knobs on the sound board of acoustic guitars affect the sound?
    Last edited by Wayne27; 09-21-2021, 10:38 PM.

  • #2
    I've never done a back to back test, but I'm sure they do.
    Ain't nothin' but a G thang, baby.

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    • #3
      Easy way to find out is play an ES-335 / Gretsch hollow type guitar, then remove the electronics and play it again.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by beaubrummels View Post
        Easy way to find out is play an ES-335 / Gretsch hollow type guitar, then remove the electronics and play it again.
        335 has a center block. I have a feeling that will negate the effect.
        Ain't nothin' but a G thang, baby.

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        • #5
          The Epiphone John Lennon acoustic has the volume and tone on the sound board

          Last edited by ehdwuld; 09-22-2021, 09:31 AM.
          EHD
          Just here surfing Guitar Pron
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          • #6
            I'd think anything touching the soundboard can affect the sound...even dragging your fingers on it. It isn't a common way to mount controls, so unless you found someone who took a guitar and did that (and compared the before-and-after) no one can be absolutely sure.
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            • #7
              I would think yes the sound changes but is it noticeable? Is it better? Worse? That is for the player to decide. I did it with a cheap classical in the 80s and did not have any ill effects. I later added a preamp to the top side of the guitar and it still sounds good. Both of these mods were to make the guitar more "live friendly". So the benefits outweighed any changes to tone, though I noticed none.

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              • #8
                I added a preamp to my Epiphone Hummingbird Artist model
                simple enough no need to put knobs on the soundboard

                EHD
                Just here surfing Guitar Pron
                RG2EX1 w/ SD hot-rodded pickups / RG4EXFM1 w/ Carvin S22j/b + FVN middle
                SR500 / Martin 000CE-1/Epiphone Hummingbird
                Epiphone Florentine with OEM Probuckers
                Ehdwuld branded Blue semi hollow custom with JB/Jazz
                Reptile Green Gibson Custom Studio / Aqua Dean Shire semi hollow with piezo
                Carvin Belair / Laney GC80A Acoustic Amp (a gift from Guitar Player Mag)
                GNX3000 (yea I'm a modeler)

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Benjy_26 View Post

                  335 has a center block. I have a feeling that will negate the effect.
                  Ok, ES-330 / Casino / Gretsch hollow then

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                  • #10
                    I believe that adding a preamp inside or knobs on top of an acoustic guitar will alter the way that the guitar resonates and produces sound in an audible way. Whether or not this is an alteration for the better - that's an open question.
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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by beaubrummels View Post

                      Ok, ES-330 / Casino / Gretsch hollow then
                      You'd have to do it before you drilled the holes though. Thats really the 'before' scenario here.

                      Most acoustics with controls have them on the sides - much less important tonally.

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                      • #12

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                        • #13
                          Technically? Yes. Anything you do impacts the sound. Including that gaping hole in the middle.

                          Can you HEAR the difference? Can't say. Maybe not at all, maybe a little, maybe a lot. I'd guess it depends on how heavy the item/pot attached is and how it dampens vibration.

                          Just play it. But you might notice the are all on the side for at least convenience, if not sound.
                          Originally posted by Bad City
                          He's got the crowd on his side and the blue jean lights in his eyes...

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                          • #14
                            A long time ago I installed a sound-hole pup to an acoustic and put a volume pot and a tone pot on the sound board. I didn't notice any difference in tone at all. A few years ago I removed the pup and pots leaving the two holes in the soundboard. I didn't notice any difference in tone at all.

                            Was there actually a difference? Enough to be measured by some sensitive equipment? Maybe. I don't know. And I don't care because I couldn't hear any difference, and that's what matters.
                            Originally Posted by IanBallard
                            Rule of thumb... the more pot you have, the better your tone.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by GuitarDoc View Post
                              A long time ago I installed a sound-hole pup to an acoustic and put a volume pot and a tone pot on the sound board. I didn't notice any difference in tone at all. A few years ago I removed the pup and pots leaving the two holes in the soundboard. I didn't notice any difference in tone at all.

                              Was there actually a difference? Enough to be measured by some sensitive equipment? Maybe. I don't know. And I don't care because I couldn't hear any difference, and that's what matters.
                              We got a definitive answer in a before/after scenario!
                              Administrator of the SDUGF

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