Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bluesdog on May 2, 2009 at 3:19am

Depends on how you build your guitar i guess, if your using the top lid as soundboard/resonator it doesnt realy matter because the strings are pushing the lid down sealing the box very tight, if your using the back of the box glueing it shut should help's get rid of rattles and buzzes as your box resonates and the fit between the lid and box isnt tight enough.


Its not a requirement to shut the boxes though, if your not bothered by "some buzz" (if any occures, some boxes are amazingly well constructed and have little to no lid buzz) i wouldnt glue it shut. If you ever want to elecktrify your ackoestic you can still open it up and throw in a piezo or something.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on May 2, 2009 at 3:35am

I usually fasten them shut (with the builtin latch or a small nail), but not seal, so I can get to the electronics. And when I use zither pins on guitars I'm keeping, I mount a clip to hold the tuning key inside the box, so I have to be able to open them.

OTOH, the Cyclops is glued shut because I was having the rattling problem Bluesdog mentions. I used a few drops of hide glue so I can easily undo it if I need to.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roger Martin on May 2, 2009 at 4:28am

What I usually do is glue a block in each corner of the box adding one in the center bottom of the lid.
After finishing the CBG if its any problem with rattles or the box wants to bow the lid up a bit then I can just run a screw into the lid and into the block thats already there.That way I'm covered if for some reason the box is making the wrong noises or its trying to twist a bit.
It only takes a few seconds to glue that block in and it saves at least an hour of time later if I need to re enforce the box.
Later if for some reason I need to get IN the BOX I only have to back out that 1 screw and pull the strings and I'm in.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on May 2, 2009 at 7:52am

Roger Martin said:

What I usually do is glue a block in each corner of the box adding one in the center bottom of the lid.
After finishing the CBG if its any problem with rattles or the box wants to bow the lid up a bit then I can just run a screw into the lid and into the block thats already there.That way I'm covered if for some reason the box is making the wrong noises or its trying to twist a bit.
It only takes a few seconds to glue that block in and it saves at least an hour of time later if I need to re enforce the box.
Later if for some reason I need to get IN the BOX I only have to back out that 1 screw and pull the strings and I'm in.

Thanks, that sounds like a good way to solve 2 birds with one stone. I have a box I just got and the lid is warped. Putting a nice, decorative screw in the lid will take care of that for me....cool!!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on May 3, 2009 at 3:04pm

Do you guys leave those floating spacer pieces (1 on each side) inside, or do you take them out? I had left them in and glued them to the side so they wouldn't rattle or vibrate, then the top would not close right, so I had to trim/sand them to get the lid to shut.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roger Martin on May 3, 2009 at 3:10pm

Iggy,sometimes I pull them out and sometimes I dont.If I feel like it may drag down the tone too much I yank them.
But I always keep the pieces in case I need a quick small piece of wood for a filler or some other quick use.
I build the necks out in my shop but most all assembly work is done in my In house shop,so thats where I keep scrap pieces for a quick solution.

• ▶ Reply