chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
- Thread starter angelic97
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LesPaulRules
New member
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
Tough question to answer as every guitar sounds different.
Here's my general opinion.
Guitars with F-holes are usually semi-acoustic in nature, and inlcude your example of the Gibson ES-335. Their very open sounding. The tops of these guitars tend to be thinner while the overall size of the guitar is bigger... allowing a more acoustic sound. Perfect for jazz, blues, and especially any music that requires a clean to semi clean sound. These guitars will feedback at higher gain settings.
Chambered guitars start off as solid body guitars. The back of the guitar is routed to alter the original tone, and to relieve weight. A top is than glued to the routed body. These tops are typically very thick when compared to f-holed type instruments. The sound tends to be closer to a regular electric, with a hint of more openess. Feedback is usually not a problem at any gain setting. Examples of chambered guitars inlcude the Guild Bluesbird, and several Gibson's, such as the Elegant and Cloud 9.
Tough question to answer as every guitar sounds different.
Here's my general opinion.
Guitars with F-holes are usually semi-acoustic in nature, and inlcude your example of the Gibson ES-335. Their very open sounding. The tops of these guitars tend to be thinner while the overall size of the guitar is bigger... allowing a more acoustic sound. Perfect for jazz, blues, and especially any music that requires a clean to semi clean sound. These guitars will feedback at higher gain settings.
Chambered guitars start off as solid body guitars. The back of the guitar is routed to alter the original tone, and to relieve weight. A top is than glued to the routed body. These tops are typically very thick when compared to f-holed type instruments. The sound tends to be closer to a regular electric, with a hint of more openess. Feedback is usually not a problem at any gain setting. Examples of chambered guitars inlcude the Guild Bluesbird, and several Gibson's, such as the Elegant and Cloud 9.
neosadist
New member
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
"F"-holes: Actual hollow-body (usually).
Chambers: hollowed-out sections to enhance certain tone, sort of like half-way between solid and hollow.
And in terms of sound, it's best to try them out. Hollow body usually gets more mids and more resonance, and to a degree chambered ones do (but I think usually they're trying for more bass than more mids, some pathetic attempt at appealing to the metal-playing crowd maybe?)
Just try them and see.
"F"-holes: Actual hollow-body (usually).
Chambers: hollowed-out sections to enhance certain tone, sort of like half-way between solid and hollow.
And in terms of sound, it's best to try them out. Hollow body usually gets more mids and more resonance, and to a degree chambered ones do (but I think usually they're trying for more bass than more mids, some pathetic attempt at appealing to the metal-playing crowd maybe?)
Just try them and see.
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
By my experiance, chambered guitars are much like solid body guitars, without so much the acoustic type response of the semi acoustic types. Compared to a solid body, the chambered guitar has a warmer, rounder, less sharp, attack. Their solid body counterparts seem to have a more agressive bite though.
By my experiance, chambered guitars are much like solid body guitars, without so much the acoustic type response of the semi acoustic types. Compared to a solid body, the chambered guitar has a warmer, rounder, less sharp, attack. Their solid body counterparts seem to have a more agressive bite though.
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
they also have a differend kinda sustain
the more wood missing, the less sustain you get, but the sustain you do get is different, it resonates more, just over a shorter period of time
they also have a differend kinda sustain
the more wood missing, the less sustain you get, but the sustain you do get is different, it resonates more, just over a shorter period of time
PUCKBOY99
Irish Flagologist
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
I've never played a chambered w/o f-holes...I have 2 Thinline Teles with f-foles.
I'm guessing with f-foles gives more of an acoustic timbre or resonance as the air escapes where as the chambered gives an overall fat hollow sound.
Kind of like a "closed back vs open back" difference in a speaker cab.
I've never played a chambered w/o f-holes...I have 2 Thinline Teles with f-foles.
I'm guessing with f-foles gives more of an acoustic timbre or resonance as the air escapes where as the chambered gives an overall fat hollow sound.
Kind of like a "closed back vs open back" difference in a speaker cab.
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
my brian moore is chambered w/o F-holes, and this will sustain forever so I am not quite sure where DHE comment is from. I notice it is more mid/bass friendly than most super-strats. Not neck heavy either, so it might just depend on the particular guitar. Mine is about 8oz lighter than any other BM I have played, which my back loves.
my brian moore is chambered w/o F-holes, and this will sustain forever so I am not quite sure where DHE comment is from. I notice it is more mid/bass friendly than most super-strats. Not neck heavy either, so it might just depend on the particular guitar. Mine is about 8oz lighter than any other BM I have played, which my back loves.
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
play a full hollowbody, you'll see what i mean
or, hell, pluck any string on an upright bass, then one on a bass guitar
Mincer said:
play a full hollowbody, you'll see what i mean
or, hell, pluck any string on an upright bass, then one on a bass guitar
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
i think it depends on the rig you play, how loud it is, and where you stand, more than acoustic properties. but, in my exp, my brian moore tends to sustain more than the solidbody versions- even acoustically. Electrically, there is no contest.
i think it depends on the rig you play, how loud it is, and where you stand, more than acoustic properties. but, in my exp, my brian moore tends to sustain more than the solidbody versions- even acoustically. Electrically, there is no contest.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
I've owned quite a few Gibson ES-335 type guitars and two chambered body Hamer Monoco Super Pros.
I prefered the chambered bodied Hamers.
The tone from a 335 is more nasal, IMO. It's a great tone but if I had to pick one over the other, I'd go for the Hamer with the chambered body. The tone seemed less nasal, deeper, more even and better balanced.
Lew
I've owned quite a few Gibson ES-335 type guitars and two chambered body Hamer Monoco Super Pros.
I prefered the chambered bodied Hamers.
The tone from a 335 is more nasal, IMO. It's a great tone but if I had to pick one over the other, I'd go for the Hamer with the chambered body. The tone seemed less nasal, deeper, more even and better balanced.
Lew
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: chambered body vs. guitars with f-holes
I agree. I always thought the 335 was an in-between that didn't really satisfy me from either end. I either want a fully hollow jazzbox with a floating bridge, or a semi-hollow guitar built in the "hollowed solidbody" method.
If the question is about what an f hole does in two exact same guitars, (like Lucille) then the hole will allow air to escape, and that's good or bad depending on what you want. If it suppresses feedback for your rig/volume levels, then don't have an f hole. If you can use one, then the guitar's chamber usually benefits from one. One exception (and it's an exception to many other rules) is the Ibanez Maxxas. That's a closed-chamber clam-shell build, with a dense little trem and a deep-set all access bolt neck, and it's incredibly lively, snappy, vibrant, and responsive. Moreso than most thinline teles or dual cutaways with chambers.
If the question is rather about the construction methods, then there are great differences. Like some solidbody style chambereds have a certain kind of bridge, or bolt neck, or whatever, and that's making a huge difference in the total experience vs. a 335 for example. The f-hole is only a minute part of that equation. You might be comparing a string-through tele bridge with a Gibson tune-o-matic that's mounted on a partially hollowed center block. So there's more at play than just the top/sides/back vs. top/chambered back construction method.
I agree. I always thought the 335 was an in-between that didn't really satisfy me from either end. I either want a fully hollow jazzbox with a floating bridge, or a semi-hollow guitar built in the "hollowed solidbody" method.
If the question is about what an f hole does in two exact same guitars, (like Lucille) then the hole will allow air to escape, and that's good or bad depending on what you want. If it suppresses feedback for your rig/volume levels, then don't have an f hole. If you can use one, then the guitar's chamber usually benefits from one. One exception (and it's an exception to many other rules) is the Ibanez Maxxas. That's a closed-chamber clam-shell build, with a dense little trem and a deep-set all access bolt neck, and it's incredibly lively, snappy, vibrant, and responsive. Moreso than most thinline teles or dual cutaways with chambers.
If the question is rather about the construction methods, then there are great differences. Like some solidbody style chambereds have a certain kind of bridge, or bolt neck, or whatever, and that's making a huge difference in the total experience vs. a 335 for example. The f-hole is only a minute part of that equation. You might be comparing a string-through tele bridge with a Gibson tune-o-matic that's mounted on a partially hollowed center block. So there's more at play than just the top/sides/back vs. top/chambered back construction method.
