cyber3d
Well-known member
I have a beautiful solid mahogany Tiny Tenor and am thinking of asking a luthier to add a side port to it. But, wondering if anyone has done this before.
Sound ports confuse me. If they were universally beneficial, then all makers would use them, right? So, when are they useful, and when are they detrimental? Does the port make the Uke sound better to the player, or the audience, or both? Does it effect the volume of the Uke? Just exactly, what does a port do? Has anyone experimented with these things, taken measurements, etc. Inquiring minds want to know!
The purpose of a side sound port is to benefit the player by directing the sound more towards them. However, it's clearly a luxury feature, and at least in my opinion not a necessary one at all. I've had two ukes with side sound ports. On one it's just a nice-to-have feature and on the other I couldn't notice it at all, would've made zero difference if it wasn't there at all. Theoretically, a side sound port can affect the sound similarly to making the primary sound hole larger, i.e., a larger sound hole will emphasize the higher frequencies of the sound. Whether a small side sound port will really affect the sound in any noticeable way, I don't know.
Same goes for those beveled edges / arm rests, mostly a deluxe feature. If the sides of a uke are nicely rounded anyway I see no reason for those arm rests.
Alan Carruth and Tim McKnight have both researched this topic to varying degrees. You can find their respective results at Side Ports and Sound Ports.
Alan Carruth and Tim McKnight have both researched this topic to varying degrees. You can find their respective results at Side Ports and Sound Ports.
I saw Pepe's custom Tiny Tenor with a side port on his FB page (koa). He indicated it was a special order shipping to HMS. So Pepe thinks it okay on that design. It was expensive...
Could be cool. Going to be difficult and keep the finish intact.
Did you hold the uke to make sure that the port will be unobstructed?
I also don't have uke with a sound port so will sacrifice one of my cheapies to test it out.