Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Matt Quinney on March 26, 2016 at 7:09am

In my limited experience (only 2 builds so far), the sides are much thicker than the tops. Even with the top bowing in slightly, the one I kept stays in tune pretty well.  It would be hard for anyone to diagnose your problem on just the information in your post.  The more details and photos the better.....

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on March 26, 2016 at 8:34am

I am having a problem seeing why you are having a problem at all. The string tension is being transferred  from the neck and being forced to the bottom of the box. I am at a loss as to why you are having a problem. You should not need anything.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 26, 2016 at 7:09am

I build my own boxes, and stiffen the inside long joints with 1/2" square pine. This seems to improve tone, especially since my boxes are made from 3/16" Lauan plywood all the way around. I usually glue and screw them together. A stiffer box seems to allow the soundboard to resonate better.

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Permalink Reply by Moritz Voegeli on March 26, 2016 at 7:12am

Do you have this problem too with the Partagas box I saw on a foto you posted last August? I work with these boxes and have no problems with them without re-enforcements, all of them however with neck through. I had kind of this problem with poor tuners, for new strings or after changing to another kind of tuning it is normal to have to retune more often. As you did builds with different tuners, do you have the problem with all of them?

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Permalink Reply by BP - RabidSalad - on March 26, 2016 at 9:35am

Thx guyz for your replies.  The boxes I get are usually the Romeo's, Punch, Montecristo and Fonseca's mainly now because of my suppliers drying up.  The boxes with little re-reinforcements will hold their tune even with the cheap tuners. 

I generally don't do a thru box build and place a piece of wood on the back of the box for the neck to sit on.  I sandwich the piezo between the lid and necks, generally, as well.  I glue and screw a string anchor to the outside that is wider than the neck.  So its essentially a thru box build. 

The guitar pictured, after being tuned is easy to make it wah wah without going out of tune.  So either the neck is bending or the box.  I'm assuming the box because the neck on this one was birch base and a mahogany fret board, pretty solid.   I didn't think I should have to re-enforce the boxes that much just because like Bama Hound mentioned the string tension should stay with the neck. 

I'm building a couple more now with re-enforced sides so I'll see what happens afterwards. 

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on March 26, 2016 at 10:48am

If your neck is all the way through then it should be stable. But the bridge is pushing on the top of the box so if you move a corner of the box maybe the bridge is moving relative to the neck?

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on March 27, 2016 at 9:54am

I still feel the neck isn't your problem. I think Kigar might have hit your problem. Get at eye level with your box and bridge and put alternating pressure on the neck. Look specifically at the top and see if the top is pulsing up and down.There is zero chance your neck is the problem. In my humble opinion.

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Permalink Reply by Thumper on March 28, 2016 at 4:25am

I always do a thru neck, but I reinforce the with thin pieces of wood on the top and bottom inside edges if the antique box I'm using appears weak. Never on a new box.

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on March 28, 2016 at 6:29am

RabidSalad, I have made a dumb mistook. When I looked at your post,there was a picture of a box with a neck and I thought THAT was a picture of your build. That wasn't your build , thus my comment about not understanding why you were having a problem. MattQuinney doesn't have a problem,but you might since I haven't 'seen a pic of your box and neck. I am sorry for any confusion it may have caused. (;-()

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Permalink Reply by Matt Quinney on March 28, 2016 at 6:34am

My apologies if I confused the issue!

Matt

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Permalink Reply by BP - RabidSalad - on March 28, 2016 at 7:41am

Phew...  Glad to have that straightened out as I was wondering why I was aimlessly wandering about bumping into walls...  )  Will you also cover the last 25 yrs or so of confusion too??? 

@Matt - Nope...  ur fine... 

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