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Double Bass putting foam in f-holes to reduce feedback

Chris Paget

Chris Paget

Sep 1, 2008
116
2
#1
I've heard of this being done and noticed a reduction even when I just put my hand over one hole. I've also seen at least one really good Nashville player actually covering them with duct tape (not the best looking option and definitely not great for the finish).

Any general thoughts on this would be appreciated, and I'm needing a recommendation on a good black foam for this. Also, how does this affect tone, volume and anything else once amplified? Thanks!
 
#3
I've done it on an EB and seen it done elsewhere on guitars with great success. My former roommate used to play a Gibson ES175 (fat hollowbody) into a stack of HighWatt amps and Marshall cabs in a very very loud band. He removed a pickup and inserted a bunch of small foam pieces (maybe 4" in length) in the guitar until it was full - then replaced the pickup and strings. Every so often he would take them out and replace any that get old. Foam yellows in time and over long periods of time becomes sticky and glue-like. There's plenty of warning time if you keep an eye on it.

The other option is to use that gray foam that is in recording studios. It doesn't decay like regular white foam does.

I realize you're playing a double bass and don't have a pickup hole to work with. Not sure how difficult it would be through f holes.
 
#5
Somebody in the UK basschat.co.uk forum cut foam in the shpe of the f-holes that fit exactly (maybe a millimeter larger than the holes) and a second piece of foam that is a bit bigger than the hole, glued the bigger and the smaller one together so that the foam cannot fall into the bass accidently.

I thought this is a good idea if you need to cover your f-holes. You can put them in quickliy if needed and remove them immediately after the gig.
 
#6
DoubleMIDI said:
Somebody in the UK basschat.co.uk forum cut foam in the shpe of the f-holes that fit exactly (maybe a millimeter larger than the holes) and a second piece of foam that is a bit bigger than the hole, glued the bigger and the smaller one together so that the foam cannot fall into the bass accidently.

I thought this is a good idea if you need to cover your f-holes. You can put them in quickliy if needed and remove them immediately after the gig.
Click to expand...

I've seen that pic, can't find it unfortunately. I think it was on musiker-board.de.

Stuffing foam under the tailpiece can work wonders, too.
 
#10
Michael Case said:
What kind of music are you playing that you need to be so loud that muting the acoustic tone of the instrument is a good option? How long have you been playing? What is your pick up and amp situation?
Click to expand...

This is what I was wondering. It's bluegrass-based, but we call it "stomp grass" as it has a good bit of Irish bar rock and punk involved (think Dropkick Murphys-ish). I'd rather not sacrifice tone, but covering the holes really seems to help with the feedback.
 
#12
What pick up and amp do you use? Are you in the monitors on stage? If you're in the monitors, you could try and taking the bass out of your monitor and just use the amp to hear yourself. If you are standing in between a monitor and your amp you are creating a feedback loop. Try putting your amp on a stand so it is closer to your ears allowing you to hear it without having your bass in your monitor.
 
#13
I had a set of Doug's Plugs made, and that was the end of feedback at any Rockabilly volume I can put up with. They look pretty nice from a distance. You send Doug tracings of your F-holes and he makes a custom set for you.

See: Link Removed

The techniques that Uncle Toad suggests are very good. For me: tailpiece and after-length dampening and an FDeck HPF-pre.

....Lyle
 
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#14
When I amp up my upright, I stuff the F-holes with flip flops.

I went to Target, got some cheap rubber flip flops, traced the f-hole, and used a razor blade to cut the shape. They fit perfectly, easy in and out, and do the trick to reduce feedback when I am playing with a loud combo.

Not my idea, I learned it from a mandolin player!
 
#16
I was in Nashville last weekend. The DB players I saw there all had foam in the F holes. Some had foam under the tail piece as well as between the end of the finger board and the top. One guy had the string after length and the tail piece wrapped in foam as well. It seemed a little dependent on how small the stage was (some were so small I do not know how they could play) and what other instruments they had to be heard over. A lot of the venues though appeared to have house bass amps, drums & pa so none of the equipment was really DB friendly.
 
#18
LyleRyan said:
I had a set of Doug's Plugs made, and that was the end of feedback at any Rockabilly volume I can put up with. They look pretty nice from a distance. You send Doug tracings of your F-holes and he makes a custom set for you.

See: Link Removed

The techniques that Uncle Toad suggests are very good. For me: tailpiece and after-length dampening and an FDeck HPF-pre.

....Lyle
Click to expand...

I've used these but to get an airtight fit it's a bit of a struggle to install/ remove. Plus, the lip can make these look somewhat oversized and cartoonish. Blue painters tape directly over the f holes worked great because it doesn't harm the finish and gives the perfect punk vibe, if that's what you're into.
 
#19
I've actually done pretty well with setting my amp where it isn't facing straiight into my bass, using a fishman full circle preamp (relatively feedback resistant compared to other piezos I've used) and using a Fishman pro plat bass EQ pedal which has a couple features to dial out feedback. I can get pretty farking loud with this setup without stuffing my f holes.
 
#20
Chris, I had a tennis ball then a towel under the tailpiece which helped then foam inserts in the ffs. The foam helped the most, to the point where my rig did not feed back In horrible rooms or with high spls. I do elevate the 3-way cab which is within a few feet of me and put the secondary 1x12 in front of a floor wedge.

I used open cell foam I got from Joanne's fabrics. I'm sure Michael's or AC Moore would have it too if there is one near you.
 

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