The Soundhole was founded in Middle Amana, IA, in early 2004. We moved to a temporary location in downtown Cedar Rapids in February of 2008, and later that spring secured our current location in Marion, moving in quickly on Flood Day. Since then, we have spent our time reconstructing the inside of our building and recording lots of great artists from Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Cedar Falls, and surrounding areas.

Our facility inhabits the top floor of Memorial Hall, a historic building built over one hundred years ago, located just off the town square in the heart of Marion. The studio itself gives a general feeling of comfort, allowing the artist the opportunity to work in an environment that is as relaxed and natural as their own practice space or living room. There is ample room for a full band to set up and record without tripping over each others' gear or invading anyone else's personal space, helping to keep any of the stress or tension often associated with working in a studio at an all-time low. When working at the Soundhole, artists have free access to the array of instruments we have built up over our years as musicians. Our collection includes 3 drum kits from Tama and Sonor; over 15 assorted guitars, including new and vintage instruments from Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Schecter, Ibanez, and a variety of others; new and vintage guitar and bass amps from Fender, Ampeg, Kustom, B52, Silvertone, and others, as well as a variety of miscellaneous instruments and effects, ranging from a classic Fender Rhodes electric piano, to classic fuzz pedals, auxiliary percussion, and virtual synths and keyboards. Thanks to the years we have invested in playing music, we understand what makes an instrument's tone unique, and take the utmost care when recording any instrument to capture the subtle characteristics that make them what they are.

Pictures of the Soundhole "Before" shots, from Summer 2008. The Soundhole today.