I have really appreciated all the encouragement and input you guys have given me. Here's my current question. What is the easiest way to deal with a box that has a framed top--not a flat top? On my most recent build I ended up taking off the top, notching the framed lid, then reattaching it after bracing the box. Reattaching was a bear and did not go well. But I could not figure out how to close the framed lid over the neck without removing the top. Please enlighten me and thanks in advance.
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I've done it several times. My first go at building CBGs went through the frame of the lid and I notched the box to fit on both ends. I glued the neck to the lid and haven't had any problems with flex. It's 3 years old and been played by at least 75-80 people.
I did the next one the same way. It spent a year working on Princess Cruise Lines with a friend of mine, as part of he and his wife's show. He played Steel Guitar Rag and Terraplane Blues on it. He also pulled one of her bras out of it as part of the comedy banter between songs. Lid got opened a bunch. No problems cutting the frame.
I didn't like cutting into the neck and having to reinforce it, so on the next one, I made a filler panel. The holes are from glue up. I kept shifting around, so I clamped it all up and the screwed to my workbench top. Probably 50 better ways to do it.
I won't do another filler. Too heavy and no real advantage, besides a very stiff top.
The neck is doing all the work against the string tension. The lid is there for looks. On my paper covered boxes, the lid slides into the neck and is held to the box with metal corners. The neck is screwed to the box bottom.
Here's this one strung up with just the lid attached.
I wouldn't worry too much about making the lid to your box flimsy, by cutting notched for the neck to pass through.
I have done it on my "Gordy" build. My experience is that once you trim the frame away the lid has flex allowing it to bend enough to close over the neck. Probably not the best solution and Elwood's suggestion of using the back is likely the best one. I did it however as this was a tribute git and the bottom was scratched up badly plus the lid had some neat scalloping. I don't need to open it to change strings so the only reason would be if there were issues with the pickup system.
Keith