What are F-Holes for?

[overunderdrive]

Maybe this has been covered, but...

are they functional?

cosmetic?

just a way to get at the electronics?

[nmiller]

F-holes are soundholes, just like the circular ones on most flat-top acoustics. They allow sound waves to exit the body, so the listener is hearing vibrations coming directly from the back as well as the top. On electric archtops they're more cosmetic holdovers than anything else; some electric hollowbodies dispense with f-holes altogether. On acoustic archtops, though, they're an indispensable part of the sound.

[burningyen]

They aren't just cosmetic on electrics, they affect the resonant frequency of the body.

[Beng2040]

They're for stashing your weed.

[nmiller]

Originally Posted by burningyen

They aren't just cosmetic on electrics, they affect the resonant frequency of the body.

That depends on the guitar. On a carved-top, fully-hollow body they will definitely make a difference; players used to stuff the f-holes with newspaper or foam to alleviate feedback. On a 335-type guitar with a laminated top and center block, though, the top is already stiffened to the point that the difference is negligable.

[pirateflynn]

You know they are working when the air rushes out against your forearm!

[stevieboy]

Easy. They're for stuffing with foam to reduce feedback.

What do I win?

[SouthpawGuy]

Originally Posted by pirateflynn

You know they are working when the air rushes out against your forearm!

Word ! When they start to push air you know you're doing it right !

[SteveO]

If the guitar has a floating bridge, the f-holes will often be located in a position where the slashes through the "F" give you a reference point for bridge placement.

[jzgtrguy]

I have Doug's plugs in my guitar. Even on a semi hollow the F holes exchange air and help the top move. A 335 without the F holes is definitley going to sound different than one with the F holes. The Dougs plugs on this guitar are very effective.

[telecasting]

I can't help saying it... You're an f hole! Only joking.

F holes are part of the history of the guitar, and what is essentially these days for electric guitars part of the popular vintage design of semi hollow electrics or fully hollow electrics in most cases (exceptions include the Gibson Lucille) that are largely cosmetic. They do act as distributors of sound from the body of the guitar but that sound makes little difference unless you're playing with a mic infront of you as the consensus on micing an acoustic would be to aim for the neck and any pickups take care of the rest.

They do look cool though, and on a 335 they are the only way to get to the electrics.

[SW33THAND5]

Sex?

[travisvwright]

F holes? The very fact that you call it that let's me know you're not ready.

[dougk]

Originally Posted by jzgtrguy

I have Doug's plugs in my guitar. Even on a semi hollow the F holes exchange air and help the top move. A 335 without the F holes is definitley going to sound different than one with the F holes. The Dougs plugs on this guitar are very effective.

Exactly. Play a 335 and a Lucille, there IS a difference.

on my hollow models, the soundport smoothed the response out considerably.

[Hammertone]

F-holes are a way to highlight the lack of design talent among many prominent and well-respected electric guitar builders, whose versions of them typically look like ass.