I have a new Ibanez AF75. I just installed Seth Lovers a n&b. I 'm getting no feedback from my tube amp, but alot from my SS amps. I plugged the f-holes and that helped but didn't resolve the problem enough. How is it possible to eliminate the feedback from these types of guitars? Does anyone have problems with hollowbodies and tube amps.?
Feedback in hollowbody
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GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
I've used a hollowbody for the last seven years playing guitar, two years with a seth lover bridge. There are a couple of key things to controlling feedback with a hollowbody:
1. Be very careful about your positioning from the amp . . . try not to ever stand directly infront of your amp! Always go off to the side a bit or behind it if you can. This is the simplest and best way to stop your guitar from feeding back.
2. Turn down the gain that you're using, even if only a bit. Semi-hollows can't handle EXTREME metal distortion (although you should be able to get some heavy hard rock tones from them)
3. If you're not playing your guitar, use your volume knob to turn off your pickups. This prevents that screetching you hear when you go to grab your beer and your guitar goes crazy
4. When you're soloing, try to mute the strings that you're not actually playing. This is kinda tough to do at first, but eventually you'll get the hang of it.
If you follow all of these, you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever with feedback at full gig volumes. At least I havn't . . . anyone else have comments?
I've used a hollowbody for the last seven years playing guitar, two years with a seth lover bridge. There are a couple of key things to controlling feedback with a hollowbody:
1. Be very careful about your positioning from the amp . . . try not to ever stand directly infront of your amp! Always go off to the side a bit or behind it if you can. This is the simplest and best way to stop your guitar from feeding back.
2. Turn down the gain that you're using, even if only a bit. Semi-hollows can't handle EXTREME metal distortion (although you should be able to get some heavy hard rock tones from them)
3. If you're not playing your guitar, use your volume knob to turn off your pickups. This prevents that screetching you hear when you go to grab your beer and your guitar goes crazy
4. When you're soloing, try to mute the strings that you're not actually playing. This is kinda tough to do at first, but eventually you'll get the hang of it.
If you follow all of these, you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever with feedback at full gig volumes. At least I havn't . . . anyone else have comments?
sufferinrewind
New member
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
Yep, just don't stand in front of the amp. I've done this with acoustic/electrics without any effects on, thru a noise gate even, and it still started to feedback, heavily.
Hey, GuitarStv, sorry to ask you this in the pickup forum, but I just ordered a Traynor Reverb Mate without even hearing it because of all the good stuff I heard about Traynor. Just curious to know what you think of it.
Yep, just don't stand in front of the amp. I've done this with acoustic/electrics without any effects on, thru a noise gate even, and it still started to feedback, heavily.
Hey, GuitarStv, sorry to ask you this in the pickup forum, but I just ordered a Traynor Reverb Mate without even hearing it because of all the good stuff I heard about Traynor. Just curious to know what you think of it.
Last edited:
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
First you have to figure out what's feeding back. Is it the high pitched squeak because the SL's aren't wax potted? Or is it the slightly lower whistle from the cover against the pickup top? Is it the lower midrangey sound of the pickup vibrating against the mounting ring or the top? Or is it the low end woofy sound of the actual guitar feeding back? Try holding the pickup with your fingers physically. Does it stop? If it stops really easily then it's probably the outside of the pickup against the rings. If it stops only after you press harder, then it might be the cover or the coils. If it's the coils, then you now know why most pickups are potted.
First you have to figure out what's feeding back. Is it the high pitched squeak because the SL's aren't wax potted? Or is it the slightly lower whistle from the cover against the pickup top? Is it the lower midrangey sound of the pickup vibrating against the mounting ring or the top? Or is it the low end woofy sound of the actual guitar feeding back? Try holding the pickup with your fingers physically. Does it stop? If it stops really easily then it's probably the outside of the pickup against the rings. If it stops only after you press harder, then it might be the cover or the coils. If it's the coils, then you now know why most pickups are potted.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
I gave up archtops and switched to semi-hollows for this reason. Plus most archtops only have 20 frets and I want all 22. My 355 makes me very happy now -- plus since I've learned to make my own pickups, I can wind a neck pu so woody sounding that it can make even solidbodies sound like an archtop.
I gave up archtops and switched to semi-hollows for this reason. Plus most archtops only have 20 frets and I want all 22. My 355 makes me very happy now -- plus since I've learned to make my own pickups, I can wind a neck pu so woody sounding that it can make even solidbodies sound like an archtop.
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
Archtops are not designed to play at big volume....period. In the heyday of the electric archtop, 100w amps did not exist and anyone playing that loud would have been institutionalized (there's a thought...)
It can be done, but it's a PITA. Getting away from the amp, the bass player, and the monitors helps. Other fixes include: a sound post, heavier hardware, a thinner bridge base, covering the f-holes, compressing the top with your arm while you play, bigger strings, and the old school 'balloon trick' ala Tal Farlow.
Archtops are not designed to play at big volume....period. In the heyday of the electric archtop, 100w amps did not exist and anyone playing that loud would have been institutionalized (there's a thought...)
It can be done, but it's a PITA. Getting away from the amp, the bass player, and the monitors helps. Other fixes include: a sound post, heavier hardware, a thinner bridge base, covering the f-holes, compressing the top with your arm while you play, bigger strings, and the old school 'balloon trick' ala Tal Farlow.
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
This is alot to keep up with, but I guess it goes with the territory! I wonder if playing in a small room causes feedback more than a large concert hall?
GuitarStv said:I've used a hollowbody for the last seven years playing guitar, two years with a seth lover bridge. There are a couple of key things to controlling feedback with a hollowbody:
1. Be very careful about your positioning from the amp . . . try not to ever stand directly infront of your amp! Always go off to the side a bit or behind it if you can. This is the simplest and best way to stop your guitar from feeding back.
2. Turn down the gain that you're using, even if only a bit. Semi-hollows can't handle EXTREME metal distortion (although you should be able to get some heavy hard rock tones from them)
3. If you're not playing your guitar, use your volume knob to turn off your pickups. This prevents that screetching you hear when you go to grab your beer and your guitar goes crazy
4. When you're soloing, try to mute the strings that you're not actually playing. This is kinda tough to do at first, but eventually you'll get the hang of it.
If you follow all of these, you shouldn't have any problems whatsoever with feedback at full gig volumes. At least I havn't . . . anyone else have comments?
This is alot to keep up with, but I guess it goes with the territory! I wonder if playing in a small room causes feedback more than a large concert hall?
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
Tal Farlow told me about a trick he used to use where he'd blow up a toy balloon inside the guitar through the f-hole. It works up to a point, but not if you're playing real loud. About 15 years ago, I used to use 2 Supers or a Super and a Twin with an P90 archtop for live shows and it was always a problem...
Tal Farlow told me about a trick he used to use where he'd blow up a toy balloon inside the guitar through the f-hole. It works up to a point, but not if you're playing real loud. About 15 years ago, I used to use 2 Supers or a Super and a Twin with an P90 archtop for live shows and it was always a problem...
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
There is a reason, after all, that the Lucille doesn't have f-holes...
There is a reason, after all, that the Lucille doesn't have f-holes...
bluesboybob
New member
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
Has anyone tried f-its feedback blockers, (similar to Dougs Plugs).
Has anyone tried f-its feedback blockers, (similar to Dougs Plugs).
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
I've jammed a couple pairs of socks into the f-holes once when my semi-hollow was really feeding back a lot and I needed to play very loud. I think it helped a bit. Nowadays I just don't play as loud or with as much gain. At least not with my semi-hollow.
I've jammed a couple pairs of socks into the f-holes once when my semi-hollow was really feeding back a lot and I needed to play very loud. I think it helped a bit. Nowadays I just don't play as loud or with as much gain. At least not with my semi-hollow.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
Since this thread has been reactivated, I talked to Florida bluesman J D Soars at a local blues festival, who plays an Epi Joe Pass hollowbody with a pair of Gibson P-94's. I asked him how he's avoided feedback on stage. He said he dials down the low end in his amps, that that's where the trouble comes from.
Since this thread has been reactivated, I talked to Florida bluesman J D Soars at a local blues festival, who plays an Epi Joe Pass hollowbody with a pair of Gibson P-94's. I asked him how he's avoided feedback on stage. He said he dials down the low end in his amps, that that's where the trouble comes from.
hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: Feedback in hollowbody
You should always dial down the lows in a stage situation compared to practicing even if you use a solid body guitar. This helps to prevent muddy sound in a band setting. The more musicians with middy instruments, the less lows should be produced. Rant over from FoH engineer!
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