The Best Acoustic Sound Cover

Sound amplification is paramount when it comes to musical instruments. Acoustic instruments from woodwinds to drums are built in a way that ensures sound carries as far as possible without the use of a microphone. To do this, often holes are built into instruments, with those openings strategically placed for the best natural amplification.

On an acoustic guitar, that hole is found in the body of the instrument, resting beneath the strings. This hole helps achieve something called the resonance frequency, which boosts the sound as you’re playing. Inside the guitar is a large hollow chamber, and the hole vibrates the air inside, amplifying the volume.

But some musicians still use microphones or acoustic guitar pickups to carry the sound even farther, through powered speakers. This is often seen during public performances, where the sound needs to travel to a larger area than if the instrument were just being played at home or in front of a small group of listeners. When amplified, an acoustic guitar’s sound hole can become a problem, creating unpleasant feedback. That’s why you’ll sometimes see musicians cover the sound hole, particularly during louder sections of their music.

That’s where an acoustic sound cover can help. These devices are built to fit in that sound hole, allowing you to play fully amplified without worrying about feedback. Some even come with decorative features that add to your guitar’s unique look. Another side benefit of a sound cover is that it will keep your pick from falling inside. Of course, that likely won’t happen enough to make one worth buying for that reason alone but it’s still a nice bonus.

Some guitar players find they only occasionally need to cover the sound hole. When you need to mute the sound a little or reduce the bass response, a quick temporary coverup can make a big difference. In this case, you won’t need a sound cover. Simply use your hand for that brief section of music, then leave the area uncovered as you continue to the rest of your performance.

• Before buying an acoustic sound cover, carefully measure the diameter of your guitar’s sound hole. Size can vary from one guitar to another. Some sound covers have a little flexibility to fit a variety of models, but if you want a solid seal, look for one that’s designed specifically for the size of your guitar’s hole.
• Rubber is a popular material for sound covers for a reason. This material does the job without scratching the body of the guitar. This is especially important if you’ll be installing and removing the sound cover often, rather than leaving it in place for months at a time.
• Sound covers are great at keeping dust and debris from the interior of your guitar. For that reason, it might be worth leaving it on your guitar between uses, particularly if you don’t keep your guitar in a case.
• Some sound covers are solid colored, while others come with subtle decorations that can add a little something to your guitar. Typically, solid-colored sound covers are black, but you can find those in other hues if that’s a little too boring.
• If you have more than one guitar, make sure you purchase sound covers for each of them. You might prefer to have more than one on hand so you’ll never be without a sound cover. You could keep one in your recording studio, for instance, with another in your case to have it when you’re playing gigs.
• A sound cover can be handy for preventing your pick from sliding into your guitar. However, if you don’t have the cover in place at all times, you may still suffer from this inconvenience. If you ever lose your pick inside your guitar, sit down, guitar on your lap, and swiftly turn it over, with a swiftness that mimics flipping an egg in a pan. For best results, avoid moving the guitar around too much once the pick is inside. You’ll want it to stay as close to the sound hole as possible.