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neck to box question

Hi C.B.N fiends, I'n a new boy , dont know my way around yet but I have a question, I'm a little confused about the fitting of the neck to the C,box, if I want to run the neck through the box, can the neck touch the underside of the box or should there be a space between, I'm thinking there might be a better sound if the the "face" is not in contact with the neck like a classic acoustic, or am I being too fussy? Thanks, Martin.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on December 15, 2013 at 1:56am

At this time of year shouldn't you be working flat out with your elves preparing for your big night rather than mucking about with cigar box guitars ?

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Permalink Reply by martin baker on December 15, 2013 at 2:50am

Well yeah, I am workin flat out without elves (they cant keep up), I do every year, makin gifts/heirlooms for de family, buuuut I Love muckin about with CBG!

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on December 18, 2013 at 10:27am

I've only done one with the neck in full contact with the box, on top, "Crow Style" and it is much quieter acoustically than "neck almost though but not touching" ones I've done with the same type box. I guess my theory is with such a small area to vibrate, I want it to vibrate as much as possible. Then on the other hand, I'm doing a 3 box mountain dulcimer and plan on having it's neck on top of the boxes, how much contact is TBD. All of that pertains to acoustic sound.

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Permalink Reply by Order99 on December 22, 2013 at 3:53pm

If you either 'scoop' the neck of your upcoming dulcimer or add small mounting blocks to it (letting the neck touch the board only at the mounting points), you can maximize your surface area and still get a fuller acoustic sound. It works on the Uncle Crow-style gits too, although it slows the build down a little...

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Permalink Reply by martin baker on December 23, 2013 at 2:48am

Yeah, that's what I ended up doing, I like the sound result.

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on December 18, 2013 at 10:29am

I'm with the others, do not use glue!

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on December 18, 2013 at 10:29am

OK, some of the others!

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Permalink Reply by martin baker on December 18, 2013 at 10:57am

After all the reply's I'v received it seems there is not one answer,other factors all play a roll, it all depends on thicknesses, size & positions, I come back to a early bit of advice"just do it" or "just try it". Good luck on your journeys into the unknown!

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Permalink Reply by Jim Woods on December 20, 2013 at 8:02pm

I guess I am the exception, but sometimes gluing seems the only way to get rid of the @#$%^&* buzzes. When I glue the lid down, I use hide glue. Supposedly it can be pried apart by applying heat.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 23, 2013 at 7:50am

I hide the glue on the top shelf to keep it away from the 4 year olds.

seriously, there are many ways to get it done. for personal builds, I've settled on bolt-on neck arrangement (fender style), using a head block and side/tail bracing in the CB. It's adjustible and very lively.