You know the way the neck as it enters the box is typically touching the top (soundboard, right?) the entire way? I don't take the neck through the back of the box, i use a mandolin tailpiece so I just screw it into the end of the box under the mandolin hinge.
I'm thinking that the neck does impart some vibration most of it must come from the bridge itself. So i was thinking maybe I should give the soundboard more free space to vibrate and trim away some of the wood from the neck that would touch the top. I leave a good inch where the bridge would be (like a bracer) and a 1/4 inch where the neck enters and hits the back end. Where i cut away, it would only be enough to let the top soundboard vibrate without hitting it, say 1/8 deep cut.
Has anyone done this? Does it make sense to try?
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http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/neck-touching-inside-of-...
I remove 1/16" from the top of the neck where it sits inside the box so there is no contact between the soundboard and the neck.
The top will vibrate more without the neck-thru touching the entire top. This will not make a good tone difference if your top is made of cheap plywood or that pressed board stuff that resembles cardboard.
If you want the best sounding acoustic CBG, your going to have to use the best quality materials and the same construction you would find in a acoustic guitar. Then again, the best sounding acoustic wouldn't be a small rectangular box shaped body.
Well I tried the hollow out except for a section under the bridge and honestly, I think it's made it more muted and dull. For what it's worth. My next two builds are electric and resonator so thank goodness i don't have to ponder again for a while.
Under the bridge is exactly where you want the most vibration. Hollow the neck out in that area as well.
Personally, I always leave about a 1/4" space between neck and box lid, only touching about 1/4" at the ends.
I've also glued a Popsicle stick or tongue depressor across the bottom of the lid right under the bridge to strengthen thin tops and maybe it's my imagination,.. but it seems to make the sound "pop". ;-)
In reading all the various scenarios presented here, I know exactly what I am going to do on the one I am currently working on... tks.. I think ..maybe.. perhaps.. anyway its all good, I think.....................
this topic comes up alot ,, and you will have some folks say a space between the lid and neck is better .. others say glued right to the top is better and the whole guitar is solid and vibrates . .
and in another thread ,( almost as in a perfect world ) , someone that actually built 2 guitars the same , same box, scale , and all , except one with a space, and one without , said .. he really couldn't tell the difference but leaned on the solid glued right to the lid sounding, and feeling better .
so there's your "hummmm" answer for the day . ;-)
well there 's the big compromise that keeps our threads going, honestly I've tried every way there is and an acoustic build is completely different from an electric, two different animals but the neck should still bear all the stress, otherwise it will be very difficult to keep in tune :-)
as in most things there are a lot of variables ;-)
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