Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on June 9, 2011 at 8:01pm

That is what I do. I cut them a tiny bit short so the lid screws down nice and tight.  Often I use side blocks too.

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Permalink Reply by David L. on June 9, 2011 at 10:23pm

I like s-hinges (or snake hinges)

 

and add rubber feet on the base which screw through to a piece of wood spanning the gap between lid and box.

 

 

 

David

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on June 10, 2011 at 12:44am

I just put tiny screws thru the lid into the wall of the box, if i have to i add a small amount of extra wood but I think the less extra you put into the box the better for sound.  I have found screwing it tight does effect the sound.

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Permalink Reply by Jason W. on June 10, 2011 at 9:17am

Like david, I use hinges (not as cool as his, though). I like the small, basic ones because it keeps the box shut, but if I ever need to get back into it, I can just slip the pin out and open it up.

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Dubman on June 10, 2011 at 7:41pm

Glue 'em shut, yellow carpenter's glue.  Rip linings from 1/4" hardwood (i.e. birch) plywood and glue them to the sides first.  The lid is under constant pressure, so you don't need additional strength as much as a decent seal.  The linings also give your strap buttons something a bit more solid than soft cedar to anchor into.  Only downside is, you won't be able to open the box, so you'll need either a cover plate on the back and/or externally mounted pickups and controls; not a problem, a set of homemade control and jack plates can dress up an instrument right nicely.

 

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on June 11, 2011 at 2:58am

Chuck, do you notice a sound improvement with the tightly sealed (glued) box? 

Chuck Dubman said:

Glue 'em shut, yellow carpenter's glue.  Rip linings from 1/4" hardwood (i.e. birch) plywood and glue them to the sides first.  The lid is under constant pressure, so you don't need additional strength as much as a decent seal.  The linings also give your strap buttons something a bit more solid than soft cedar to anchor into.  Only downside is, you won't be able to open the box, so you'll need either a cover plate on the back and/or externally mounted pickups and controls; not a problem, a set of homemade control and jack plates can dress up an instrument right nicely.

 

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Permalink Reply by Chuck Dubman on June 18, 2011 at 8:43pm

Not so much sealed as put together more solidly.  More energy going into

making the box hum than making loose parts rub against each other.  No

mystery buzzes and rattles to track down.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on June 19, 2011 at 4:23am

Corner blocks (.375" - .5") and wood screws. Makes changes/additions easy.

 

-WY

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