Viol d'Amore F-Holes?

[ThumpPlunkJunk]

I searched some other threads on these forums for information about these, but I haven't found anything that gives tonal differences between viol d'Amore holes and traditional F-holes.

My question are: What is the difference, sound-wise?

Those who have played a bass with such holes, is there any real difference? Do you like it more or less or is there no preference?

Who makes them, these days? I heard talk of a luthier who makes basses with amore holes but the link to his site was either dead or non-operational for the moment.

Would an average luthier know what they are? I'm 16 and I'm going to start saving up for a student-level bass and I'd like to see about purchasing one of these if I try it out and like it. I've heard rumors of them sounding sweeter and a little warmer than normal ones, but I've never heard one--even on YouTube. My current bass sounds young--sort of crunchy, thunderous type of bass. I enjoy playing it because it's got that huge, room-filling sound, but at the same time, it doesn't have that "broken in" sound that the older basses I've played have. For instance, we've got a carved bass at my school that I play and it's got the dark, chocolatey sound, but it's not in the best of condition and not the best make, so the lower end is somewhat muddy and the high end sounds...droning? I don't know, it's just not very distinct past sixth or seventh position.

Does anybody have any YouTube links of a bassist playing a bass with d'Amore holes, too?

Thanks, in advance!