Semi-Hollow... to f-hole or not to f-hole...

Having made one with f-holes, I am firmly in the been-there-done-that club.

I don't think f-holes are going to make any noticeable sound difference in your build.

What kind of treatment for the f-holes? Binding or none?

 

I’m in the no F Hole camp.
They look cool, but I think hollow guitars sound better
(electrically) without them.
I’m basing my opinion on the sound of my fully hollow Chet.
It has the painted on F holes, and is my all time (so far) best sounding electric guitar.

 

I'll give you my opinion, but you know what they say about opinions. F-holes or some variation looks correct on guitar based on classical Gibsons and other traditional designs. They look wrong on Fender. It looks even sillier with one f-hole on one side and not on the other. OK, now I'll put on my fire proof underwear and get ready for the flame throwers.

Saying that, I put them on guitar that are based on traditional designs - ES175 and 335 and L5's and F5 mandolins. When I built my personal tele I chambered it much as you have done, but I left the silly f-hole off. I think it looks much better and it sounds fine.

Some things to remember, however. F-holes make the guitar more prone to feedback, which is why BB had them left off of his Lucilles. If you don't put them in your semi you will need to provide an access hole for the electronics. However it is also a total PITA to fish electronics thru f-holes, I build them in during construction. If you are making your top close to acoustic thickness you should consider reinforcing the holes - they often split at the sharp points. They are a hassle to bind, but look elegant when they are. In a true acoustic instrument they are critical to the air chamber sound and need to be tuned as part of voicing the top, not an issue for you. They can be used to show off your design ideas - look at all the cool archtops - but some of them just look dumb.

That said, I would leave them off of any fender inspired guitar. YMMV

Ps - I did a little write up on installing binding and purfling, let me know if you would like the link.

 

Binding the F holes is about the most work out of the whole guitar build. So Ya gotta really like what it adds to do it.

 

The f-hole is one of the places I've seen distinctive design - personally, I'm for it, w/o any idea how much harder I've just voted to make op's project. You're welcome. . .
Peace - Deeve

 

I’ll play the other side: I think F-holes look sweet on F-style guitars! Hard to say how much impact they have on tone, all of my Thinlines have F-holes and I know they are far more resonant acoustically than my solid bodies...

 

F-hole, because:

when you play a guitar with an f-hole at high volume, at that perfect spot just before feedback, it is an organic experience, the top vibrates and pushes air through the f-hole, you feel that against the inside of your forearm, and the guitar becomes a living breathing thing

 

I am for an f hole in any semi hollowbody

 

I'm squarely in the almost always F-hole camp. Of course I tend to be partial to Thinline Teles, all else being equal. I don't think they belong on every type of Tele or Fender shape, but on a traditional Thinline or '70s HH Thinline, I say they complete the look. So if you're putting a pickguard on it or anything, yes. F-hole. No pickguard, then forego it.

 

My final word is no "f-ing" holes!

 

It's unlike any other guitar experience. It's a huge part of why I generally prefer semi/hollowbodies

 

Here is the insides of a semi hollow (335 style). The f-holes are taped to prevent cracking and will be bound. I install all the electronics with the back off so I can get the wiring perfect. This is the full length kerfed 335 style center block - this guitar got a ToM with a Bigsby




Binding the holes with the old wicked CA trick




Here is the link, hope it helps

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/binding-101.1002709/

 

Someday when I have the wherewithal to build guitars from scratch, this will be my "f-hole"...
I drew it up for a guy who was supposed to build me a custom LPB Thinline a few years ago. He totally bombed on follow through and it never came to fruition (come to think of it, he still owes me $1000 from that deposit), but I'm still itching to get it carved into a top someday.

 

No "F" hole

 

Hollow...no F hole.
I dig it.