What is a ukulele soundhole cover? Why it’s useful for night practice and ensemble playing

Are you worried about playing the ukulele at night because of the noise?

While the ukulele is popular as an easy-to-start instrument, many people encounter problems when they try to practice at home, such as "it's louder than I thought," "it's hard to play because my family is sleeping," or "I have to be considerate of my neighbors in my apartment."

Exactly—that's what you wanted to know. In response to such feedback, we at 708works, who manufacture leather goods for guitars and ukuleles on a daily basis, will carefully explain the "sound hole cover," a simple solution for ukulele volume issues.

What is a sound hole cover?

As the name suggests, a sound hole cover is a silencing item attached to the round hole on a ukulele (or guitar) called the "sound hole." The sound hole plays a role in resonating the instrument's sound, but by lightly covering it, you can moderately suppress the volume.

3 benefits of using a sound hole cover

When you actually use one, you get these great benefits:

• Easy to practice at night by reducing volume: While it doesn't make it completely silent, it mutes the sound enough for the people around you while still allowing you to hear yourself clearly.
• Easier to balance volume during ensembles or sessions: When playing in a group, it prevents the ukulele's sound from standing out too much.
• Prevents dust from entering the sound hole: It's easy to overlook, but this is a great point for using your instrument with care for a long time.

Why "genuine leather" is recommended

There are various materials for sound hole covers, such as resin and rubber, but we at 708works are committed to using "genuine (natural) leather."

The moderate thickness and softness unique to genuine leather naturally suppress the volume while being gentle enough not to damage the instrument. Also, the way the leather ages and develops character the more you use it is a charm unique to genuine leather. It will become a companion that stays with your favorite ukulele for a long time.

At 708works, we handcraft each ukulele-specific sound hole cover from natural leather. Since it moderately suppresses the volume, it is very useful for late-night practice or playing in large ensembles. Of course, it is also recommended as a measure against dust.

If you are interested, please check out our Sound Hole Cover | For Ukulele [Genuine Leather].

Installation is very easy

Some may worry, "Isn't it a hassle to attach?" but don't worry. You just lift the "flaps" on the back of the cover, insert them into the sound hole, and fix it in place. No tools or modifications are required, and you can attach it whenever you feel like it. You just take it off when you're done practicing, so you can easily switch between styles of play.

For those who own an acoustic guitar

Many people probably think, "Actually, I have the same problem with my guitar..." Sound hole covers are also very effective for preventing howling feedback when using acoustic-electric guitars or nylon-string guitars on stage.

At 708works, we also offer Sound Hole Covers for Acoustic Guitars [Genuine Leather]. Just like the ukulele version, these are carefully finished by our artisans.

Enjoy your ukulele more freely without worrying about the sound

It is a real shame to hesitate to practice just because you are worried about the noise. With just one sound hole cover, you can enjoy your time at night and playing in ensembles with others much more comfortably.

It's a small companion to help you spend more time and play more freely with your precious ukulele. We hope you will try a genuine leather sound hole cover. It will surely expand your world of music a little bit.