Tim McKnight of McKnight Guitars provided instructions on the AGF for installing a soundport into a guitar. I decided to blog it here so I can find it quickly. I might experiment with one on my Yamaha C40.Sound port installation instructions
List of material:
- Dremel with router base attached
- 1/8" Diameter down-cut spiral bit (Stewmac)
- 1/2" dia Dremel sanding drum
- 180, 220, 320 sand paper
- Brush on super glue (Stew Mac)
- 2" masking Blue tape
- Tape the area off with two layers of masking tape. Be generous so you don't risk scratching the surrounding finished area around the port.
- Look inside your guitar to see if there are any internal side braces. If so, transfer the brace locations onto the outside on the masking tape. Between these marks is the area that your new sound port must be located as you don't want to sever a brace. You will also need to stay well inside of the top and back kerfed linings too.
- Draw out the port shape on the masking tape. Smooth designs are much easier for an inexperienced person to cut and they also reduce the risk of delaminating the surrounding finish. I use a port roughly the size of a Small Grade A size Egg.
- Use the Dremmel with the router base and down cut spiral cutting bit. Stay 1/16" inside of the line and cut the hole out.
- Put the sanding drum in the Dremmel and now sand up to the finished shape outline.
- Use 180 sandpaper and round over the internal and external edges of the hole. Progress to 220 and finish with 320. Be very careful NOT to sand the finish on the exterior of the guitar.
- Coat the edge of the hole with superglue. It will dry hard and shiny. Use the edge of the brush to apply the glue and make a circle around the freshly sanded edge.
- Remove the masking tape. If the glue is rough (usually it isn't) you can smooth with 600 wet or dry sandpaper and then buff.
- Get a glass of iced tea, kick back on the couch and let me know how big your smile is when you first hear the new sound port.
