Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by ThePracticalPeasant on April 29, 2017 at 4:06am

Opening the lid and notching the ends of the box to fit the neck is pretty easy to do. If you couldn't open the lid, you'd have to cut square holes, which is far more difficult.

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on April 29, 2017 at 4:34am

It's also aesthetics...   

Truthfully, the bottom of many boxes might be a better sound board...

Nigel McTrustry makes most of his bottom-up...

http://cigarboxguitarsaustralia.com/

Permalink Reply by Moritz Voegeli on April 29, 2017 at 4:54am

I work a lot with simple but well sounding partagas boxes and I prefer to use them bottom up: the lid is 6.5mm, the bottom 4.5mm which gives the better sound board; another advantage: you can open the box without removing the strings. For me it's the sound what counts, but for a really beautiful box maybe I'll change my mind...

Permalink Reply by David Clewell on April 29, 2017 at 5:32am

Remember the first rule of building CBGs; there are no rules. I have built with top up and top down, both with success. 

Permalink Reply by Brian Revels on April 29, 2017 at 5:39am

As you can see... it just depends.

Permalink Reply by Gus K on April 29, 2017 at 6:07am

No they are not.

http://cigarboxguitarsaustralia.com/

Permalink Reply by Greg G on April 29, 2017 at 6:30am

Thanks folks, appreciate the insight and the quick response.

Permalink Reply by J.D. on April 29, 2017 at 12:13pm

I found that it makes for easier acsess to the inside of the box along w a few other perks to having the lid on top "like ease of notching for the neck ,sound holes etc. ,but I guess it depends on the box and or what works best for you "the builder"! like they say "there are no set rules in CBG building"! I have seen some nice sounding gits with the bottom of the box on top of the body.