Hi Chris,

Although old harpsichords often had soundholes, they may no discernible
difference to the sound. It is provable - cover them up with gaffer tape
and listen. Mo\stly they seemed to be a kind of more or less ignorant
copying of lute etc, back when acoustics was not a quantitative science. I
think I read Ruckers etc had to have them for id with a rose with initials
or name, as per guild regulations (but that may be my overactive
imagination).

A harpsichord cavity is not a loudspeaker, or a guitar, and functions
differently to them. You don't need a port. Most often instruments are open
at the belly rail anyway, with a very large air gap. Even instruments that
may have a sealed cavity, again, you don't need one.

Leave it out.

Andrew

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