Replies

  • Or, you can do what Shane did with his "Old Mac".... it developed a buzz in the box lid (probably from bowing, although I don't know) and he just screw the lid to the neck thru!!!!! Check out some of the old pics of the Mac..You can see the screw just behind the bridge. But, it took years and thousands of hours of playing to get it to bow enough to cause trouble.

    MichaelS said:
    LOL, yea, if it flex's enough it will hit the thru neck sooner or later. : ) Another good reason for a floating bridge, no glue to scrape off


    Diane in Chicago said:
    Then just put on a higher bridge and keep playing.


    ty harvala said:
    seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?
  • LOL, yea, if it flex's enough it will hit the thru neck sooner or later. : ) Another good reason for a floating bridge, no glue to scrape off

    Diane in Chicago said:
    Then just put on a higher bridge and keep playing.

    ty harvala said:
    seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?
  • Then just put on a higher bridge and keep playing.

    ty harvala said:
    seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?
  • Quit worrying and start building...... If you mess something up, you learn and get better.

    the best,

    Wichita Sam

    ty harvala said:
    seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?
  • You are spot on Michael. I forgot that there are some boxes that are half as thick than I use. There are also some boxes that, well, are not really wood and they too may be a little on the weak side. I haven't found many of those. I guess I just reject them . I think that boxes like the ones you see at convenience stores don't really make good CBGs.

    -WY

    MichaelS said:
    You did not say what kind of box it is and how thick the lid is. Most box's will work fine, as Wes has said but there is always an exception. I have an Ashton box with a lid that is about 1/16" thick maybe a hair more and it pushes down really easy with my finger. I am planning to add some kind of support but I don't want much to deaden the sound either. This is an extreme case I think. Wes correct me if I am wrong.
  • You did not say what kind of box it is and how thick the lid is. Most box's will work fine, as Wes has said but there is always an exception. I have an Ashton box with a lid that is about 1/16" thick maybe a hair more and it pushes down really easy with my finger. I am planning to add some kind of support but I don't want much to deaden the sound either. This is an extreme case I think. Wes correct me if I am wrong.
  • Floating. Tacked down. Either way works.

    -WY

    Jonathan said:
    seems like a floating bridge is the way to go i.e., don't glue it down or anything. the body (cigar box) should support it and if it's strung from the tail the pressure of the strings will hold it down. I haven't actually finished my first build yet but this is what I've gathered from my hours of searching, reading and well ahem....trolling.
  • +5 Michael.

    I cut a 1/4" recess for the lid then about .75" from that I cut an extra 1/6" recess so the lid will vibrate. You will also want to look into reinforcing the neck underneath. See my pics for more info.

    -WY

    Michael Gajeski said:
    I like to leave a recess in the neck that extends for most of the length of the top so that there is nothing to stop the top from vibrating. That said, I've seen it done both ways and the other way seems to work well too.
  • Nope. its thick enough.

    -WY

    ty harvala said:
    seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?
  • You are right it will dull the sound You want the top to vibrate as much as possible
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