#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Neck on top of box vs. thru box

Hello gang! I went through the first five or so pages of this forum looking for an answer but didn't see anything related.

I see most CBG's with the neck running "thru", under the lid. However, I have seen some where the neck is on top of the lid. I also noticed that the Gitty starter kit is like this as well. I think I know the answer in that the box might resonate more with the neck under the lid rather than on top, but I wanted to check in to see if this is correct. Thanks.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on August 29, 2017 at 7:41am

An older discussion here on the exact subject ---> through vs top mount

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bryan on August 29, 2017 at 10:18am

Thanks for the link, Richard!! I figured this had to have been discussed in the past.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on August 29, 2017 at 11:06am

yeah, I'm still learning to navigate this site myself

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JL on August 30, 2017 at 1:39am

The "No Rules" rule, rules!

my first 2 diddley bo's were uncle crow / dulcimer neck on top, and have plenty of volume.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bryan on August 30, 2017 at 4:18am

Thanks, JL. Yeah, I'm thinking the only way is to build different styles and see which I prefer personally. Two different camps on this topic for sure. Even the two styles have their own slight differences on joining to the body / box. Half the fun is trying and exploring different options!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JL on August 31, 2017 at 3:09am

From the physics chalk-board: it's a trade-off between free vibration surface sound-board and free resonance volume inside the box. with the neck on the outside you get more cubic inches of resonator cavity, with the neck inside the box not touching the lid you get more square inches of free moving soundboard.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kigar on August 31, 2017 at 2:31pm

You can do a neck on top and have the lid move freely - use two shims below the neck at the ends of the box where the neck is attached, and use a U-shaped bridge that doesn't touch the neck either.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on August 31, 2017 at 5:28am

To paraphrase, it's not how you build it, it's how you play it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bryan on September 1, 2017 at 12:03am

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Great words of advice. I've been learning so much from this site and you all so much and my first kit is still in shipping. By the time it arrives, and with the information I have already learned, I can already make subtle changes if I choose to. Heck, I might even pop up to the local Lowe's for parts and supplies and start my own before the kit gets here ;)