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Keeping The CBG Box Shut

Posted by ThePetty on July 28, 2011 at 3:26pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Ok, so I'm in the process of building my first six-string cbg. The box that it's made of is a pretty thick and beefy mahogany. The problem with the box though is that it doesn't have any clasps to keep it closed. So what I'm wondering is ...

(1) Would the string tension on the bridge be enough to keep it shut?

(2) If not, what would be a good method for keeping it shut without destroying the outside and leaving a good amount of space on the inside?

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Replies

William McCauley July 29, 2011 at 2:54pm

I use the brass 90 deg angles they sell at Lowes or HD. I screw them down so the lid is not tight against the box.
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Diane in Chicago July 29, 2011 at 1:13pm

I often do a neck thru or a neck butt-to-the-tail-of-the-box, so I generally put a screw in the center of the short sides of the lid right into the neck. Then the whole thing is one solid unit.
YeahDoIt July 29, 2011 at 7:07am

I drilled two holes in mine so I could tie the top down with a thread. Then I removed the thread because people really like it when I show them the inside of the box.
ThePetty July 28, 2011 at 11:18pm

Dang, didn't think I'd get so much advice so fast. Really appreciate it guys. CBG building greenhorns like me need all the advice they can get! I worked on her a little more tonight and what i ended up doin is having the neck mounted to the lid and the extension from the box to the base of the neck mounted to the bottom of the box. So now when i put in the neck screws the two halves will be held together. Also, I'm using Diane in Chicago's idea and im gonna screw the lid closed from the back too (just to be safe).

Here's a pic. of how the guitars coming along => HERE
Diane in Chicago July 28, 2011 at 6:22pm

I generally glue in 1/2 or 3/4 quarter round in each corner of the box, but I cut the pieces just a hair short. Then I screw the box closed. That little bit too short assures the fit is nice and tight, which makes for better sound -- especially important if you are building acoustic. The screws let you get back inside should you need to.
Jim Mitchell July 28, 2011 at 5:59pm

Could you use metal corners?
Dan Sleep July 28, 2011 at 5:46pm

I got one I just built, and the clasp won't stay closed on it, so I am going to do the velcro thing on it myself. I toyed with just screwing the lid closed, but I think that when I sell them, people want to be able to see what's inside the box. So, I make every effort to make the box easy to open.
William McCauley July 28, 2011 at 5:18pm

Very slick.

Dan Sleep said:

Put a 1 inch square "post" inside the box and glue it so that doesn't quite touch the underside of the lid. Put velcro on both the "post" and the lid. Done.
ThePetty July 28, 2011 at 4:38pm

Thanks Dan, thats what I'm gonna do. Thanks for the help guys.
Dan Sleep July 28, 2011 at 4:27pm

Put a 1 inch square "post" inside the box and glue it so that doesn't quite touch the underside of the lid. Put velcro on both the "post" and the lid. Done.