Kay f-holes

[Thumpie]

Hi, everyone, It's me again. I'm still excited about my newly acquired 1947 C-1 and full of questions.

The wood around the f-holes on this old bass is somewhat misshapen, in that the wood doesn't follow the contour of the top perfectly and sticks out a little on the outside and curls in slightly on the inside. If looks like the wood has "lost its memory" of the shape it was pressed into.

I doubt this effects the sound much--or does it? And does it make the value of the bass less?

Thanks!

[Hammertime3]

My '41 is the same way..doesn't worry me a bit.

[PaulKing]

If I understand your description properly, it might mean that the centre of the bass top has sunk slightly under the pressure of the strings. Maybe the sound post is a bit short, or has been placed too close to the centre line, causing the top to sink.
Either way, if it's slight it's almost certainly nothing to worry about. If it gets worse, you need to get your sound post looked at.

[Jake deVilliers]

They all do that.

[Phil Rowan]

+1.. on mine more so on the treble side. this causes the sound and air to be pushed downward out of the f-hole

[Paul Warburton]

+1
Yes, kind of the opposite of Dizzy's horn.