This may a stupid question but as a rank beginner looking at build pics and vids, it seems all cbgs are made with the hinged lid above the neck. Other than the aesthetics of the box graphics what's the reason. I am thinking that if the lid was on the players side it will make the inside of the box readily available to keep nuts tight, add piezoelectric pick ups and check and maintain wiring. I picked up four boxes none of which have any fancy labels or art work, so I am not loosing the "look" by building it lid side in. Are there reasons for not doing it lid side to the bottom or rear???
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No they are not.
http://cigarboxguitarsaustralia.com/
Thanks folks, appreciate the insight and the quick response.
Remember the first rule of building CBGs; there are no rules. I have built with top up and top down, both with success.
I work a lot with simple but well sounding partagas boxes and I prefer to use them bottom up: the lid is 6.5mm, the bottom 4.5mm which gives the better sound board; another advantage: you can open the box without removing the strings. For me it's the sound what counts, but for a really beautiful box maybe I'll change my mind...
It's also aesthetics...
Truthfully, the bottom of many boxes might be a better sound board...
Nigel McTrustry makes most of his bottom-up...
http://cigarboxguitarsaustralia.com/
Opening the lid and notching the ends of the box to fit the neck is pretty easy to do. If you couldn't open the lid, you'd have to cut square holes, which is far more difficult.