I wish I could copy every hollow body guitar player with this message. The f-hole plugs you made for my Epiphone and two Gretsches are the best hollow body guitar accessories I have used in decades of playing. First, they fit perfectly. There was no need at all for the emery boards you kindly sent with the instructions. (I don't like, and had already discarded, the pickguards, so I did not have to deal with that.) Second, the outside appearance of the plugs could not possibly match the look of the f-holes any better. They are, of course, a tiny bit larger than the actual hole, but the contours of the plugs are identical matches to the f-holes . Third and most important, they work.
Over the years, I have tried almost every electronic feedback device available. I have ruined a finish using tape, I'e tried to cut my own foam, and once out of desperation I resorted to stuffing socks into the guitar. Now, though, after spending a few days playing, the feedback problem that has always accompanied my hollow bodies is under control. It is obvious these plugs would not work so well or look so good without a great deal of extra effort and precision on your part.
Just wanted to let you know I got the plugs in the mail Thursday and fitted them today (Saturday). Went as easy as you said, just takes a little patience. They look great and significantly cut the feedback. My L-5 tends to feedback on F, so I plugged in, cranked it, hit F and - no feedback. Plus it doesn't seem to noticeably alter the tone of the guitar - still has that archtop sound and vibe.
I've have my L-5 for several years but wasn't playing it all that much, mainly due to the feedback issue (also, my workhorse guitar has been a Howard Roberts Fusion). But now I'll be getting more use out of it - in two big bands, accompanying a singer, and with my trio.
I've seen other people fill the box with rags or foam, or, even worse, tape over the F-holes (ouch!!!). This is a more elegant solution, and I will definitely recommend these.
Just wanted to tell you that I saw an upright bass player with Doug's
Plugs installed last night and his sound was incredible! I want to get some for my 1969 Kay upright bass. I will do the markings this weekend and mail them to you. It was really phenomenal what a difference it made.
"Hey Doug, I got the plugs installed very easily with only minimal sanding. I took my bass to big band rehearsal last night and it never sounded better through my amp...no more annoying feedback whatsoever. These things really do work!! Thank you!"
"Dude!
My wife (Lana Turner, by the way) was sitting near me when I took them out
of the box. She said, "They're gonna fit perfectly." I'm like, No Way.
He says you gotta file em down and take off the pick-guard, etc. They
slipped right in. Perfect fit right out of the box. Another satisfied
customer.
Already sizing up the old L5 for a set. LOL. Great doing
business with you. I'll pass the word and post my positive experience on
the site when I get a chance."
"Hey, just wanted to let you know that
I got the plugs on Saturday and had a chance to
put them in and rehearse with my band with them. Buying your plugs was my guitar's
"last chance" before I'd get rid of it. I'm not a jazz player or anything like
that. I use a lot of overdrive and fuzz in my music and I felt that a hollow body guitar
although sounds cool in a bedroom just can't be used live because of excessive feedback.
Your plugs really made a difference. It didn't completely eliminate my feedback problem
though. Because I use fuzz it still gets some feedback, but it's a lot more manageable.
Now I have something I can work with and I feel confident that I can play my instrument
live without fear. I won't be selling my epiphone casino after all. Thanks much!"!
"I
Just received the plugs for my L-5 CT. They fit perfectly! Only
thing I had to do was to cut a small line for the pickup wire
from the floating pickup. Took me about 5 mins.
I have to admit that I thought the plugs looked a little big in
your pictures. But I was wrong. Big time! In close up they look
like they should be there. From a distance (not far) you can't
even see them. And I'm a detail freak! But the most important is
that they just kill the feedback. I tried to make my own
plugs.They didn't look too good, but they did work at some
level. Maybe 50% less feedback? Your plugs are close to
eliminate it. Way better than making your own!
Finally I will thank you for solving out the feedback problem
for the archtop guitar. Not at least the floating pickup archtop
guitar. Thank you!"
""Hey
Doug! Got the plugs yesterday and they fit perfect without any
sanding whatsoever! They look real nice too. You did a very nice
job.
Now I didn't have time to turn up my amp real loud so far but I
had it at a volume that would normal start squealing and howling
and it was just as you claim, virtually gone. I could still get
it to start to feed back if I really wanted too by holding a
certain note but for the most part it totally stopped the
problem. At a distance you can't really tell there are plugs in
the holes unless it was pointed out. I had to remove the screw
on the bracket that holds up my pick guard. I didn't have to
actually fully remove the guard, I just slightly lifted the end
of it up to clear the plug and it pressed right in. Perfect!
Great job Doug!
Anyway I am very, very pleased so far and hope that it will
handle a really loud amp setting. But still at the volume I had
at it already is a huge improvement. Thanks again!
"Hey
Doug. Got the plugs today . Can I say they fit perfectly...I
didn't have to trim them at all! Plugged in turned it up and
could tell straight away I'm onto a winner with this product. I
was going to invest in a solid body guitar but my first
impression is that it's not such a big isue now. Thank you!"
"I had
the opportunity to test your plugs today and they worked great
and you can't even tell they are in the guitar unless you are
holding it. In fact, it hides the rough finish in the sides of
the f holes. No feedback, whatsoever, sitting just two feet in
front of 3 large amps, including my twin reverb. I told a few of
friends about your product and how great it works. I will be
sending you another order for my D'aspiranta jazz box."
"I've
been using your plugs on my D'Angelico NYL-2 and can now play in
clubs and large halls without feedback. Previously, I had to
adjust gain, tone and everything else and still had problems
with certain notes. Thanks for this simple solution. Your
product is great."
"The
plugs arrived Tuesday [and] I installed the same day. The top F
I did not need to do anything to it-- went straight in. I found
[that by] gently rocking the plug back and forward it was easy
to get out. The bottom F I had to trim a bit as one of the F
holes under the pick cover was not a true round.... I then tried
the big test. I cranked up my 100 watt fender amp. What a
response! Nearly full volume and not a sign of feed back. I then
cranked up my Vox amp [with] similar setting again same
response. I then raised the humbuckers again no sign of feed
back...There is one thing I don't think some other users
mentioned is that your plugs have given them the freedom and
confidence to express themselves without the worry in the back
of their minds when playing "is this guitar going to scream back
at me" . Many thanks Doug you have solved a problem for me and
other guitarists. Did I mention they look great? Its also a
pleasure to deal with another player that has same love of the
guitar."
"First off,
in just home practice, they are simply unbelievable, I can play
at
any volume
using my normal Fender Hot Rod DeVille 2x12 (this one is super loud
!!)
or bassman
reissue (this really feeds back due to the bassy response of the
4 x 10"
Jensens).
Live on my first function gig was a dream; no setups, no pointing
the amp
this way or
that, simply plug in, set the volume at 5 (Very Loud!!) and use the PU
volume to balance
up with the rest of the band. Truly an excellent product.
You've
removed about
50% of the grief from using my jazz box live. .... they are a stealat $60.
Nothing I have ever bought cost so little and did so much for my
playing."
"My guitar
will start feeding back on G (5th fret, 4th string or 10th fret,
5th
string) and
[with the plugs] I had to crank my amp much louder than I play intypical
gig situations (with a drummer) before I could see that problem.
I've tried
the balloon
thing and stuffing my guitar with foam, neither of which worked.Another
thing, I've taken the guitar to 3 gigs and a rehearsal and
nobody hasnoticed
them in the guitar. This is the best feedback solution I've ever
come across."
"I have
installed your plugs into my ES-165 and they work just great.
My feedback problems are over. Not only do they work well but they fit in perfect and I did not have to
do any work at all to make them fit. I highly recommend your plugs for any archtop player. I
will be passing out your cards to the local music dealers in my area and other guitar players here in Southern California.
Your service to me was great and you have a great product. It is a real bargain for us guitar
players that play archtops. Thanks again."
Note: Upright bass
plugs are $95/pair because they require 6x more materials and take
longer to make. Please contact Doug for more information.
Thanks!
"I contacted
Doug to find out if he could make me a set of plugs for my
upright bass -- I generally play without an amplifier, but I play in some venues where the house volume alone
creates so much feedback through my bass that I often have difficulty hearing even what notes I'm
playing, let alone being able to control my sustain before it becomes a huge feedback loop.
The day I put Doug's plugs on, it was just night-and-day -- after an endless
parade of combinations of DI's, EQ's, different pickups, trying to rotate the bass, etc. -- after
all of that, I instantly had the tight, focused response from my wing pickup that I'd been missing for literally
years. The plugs just utterly eliminated all of the boom that was creeping back into my signal
through the upright body, and turned my bass back into an instrument again, instead of being a giant microphone.
I can't recommend
Doug highly enough -- if his plugs can do this for a huge
upright bass, I can only imagine how well they work with the relatively smaller and narrow-bodied archtop guitar.
"I found Doug’s plugs website during a Google search.
I play both electric and upright bass in blues and rock and rockabilly bands. In order for by upright bass to be
heard, it must be amplified. Prior to getting my set of Doug’s plugs I had many problems with feedback… I tried
using the EQ on my amp to control the feedback but that solution really killed the tone I was looking for. I
also tried using different DI’s and pickups but still had feedback problems with each.
I read stories about people taping up the F holes and stuffing rags under the tailpiece of the bass but that
didn’t sound like a good solution for me. Now with Doug's plugs installed on my bass, my feedback problem is
history. My upright bass volume can now compete with that tone and volume of my electric bass without the
annoying feedback problem. The plugs eliminate all of the feedback that was reverberating through the F holes on
the upright body.
Doug has got the solution. I highly recommend Doug and his product. He provides quick and excellent service and
delivers a high quality product!"
Testimonials
