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I have recently come across two acoutic guitars that feature removable tail blocks.

This one from Wechter Guitar's that is for allowing access and swapping of electronics.
http://www.wechterguitars.com/custom/gallery34.htm

The other was on the Steve Klein site that had some kind of mehcanical automatic tuning system that just did not seem right in an acoustic guitar.

I was considering a similiar feature (removable tail block or panel) on my AGB hybrid design to allow me to tweak some things inside after completed.

What would be the best approach design wise to protect the integrity and stability of the instrument, allow access with out unstringing and prevent any rattling?

I had considered some brass threaded inserts used on bolt on neck electric guitars but thought I would see if there were some good / better ideas here.

My AB-1 Has a large removable panel for access to the electronics. It is plastic inlayed flush to the sides on the lower side of the tailblock. the hole is framed on the inside, and very small threaded brass inserts are provided for the mounting screws. The inserts are the same as you find on control cavities of high end electric guitars. I don't know who sells them, but they look like standard hardware.

Al

Al, you can find that kind of inserts at Ace hardware. I was looking for inserts for my necks and came across those inserts in various sizes as well as corresponding screws.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Kent Chasson has a pretty ingenious method for this that he posted pics of over on mimf. It uses the pickup jack attached to a removable aluminum bar that spans the opening on the inside of the access panel) to hold the access panel in place, no other exposed fasteners.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Jay Hargreaves has a very cool design for his access panel.

jthbass.com

If you can visit him in Tacoma, WA, or catch him at an exhibit or something, it would be well worth your while. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and his basses are fantastic.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

How about using tiny rare earth magnets on the four corners of the panel? They'd be invisible from the outside, which would be cool, but you'd need to figure out a way to pry the panel off without damaging the edges. Worth a thought anyways... Not strong enough to incorporate the end block/pin, so it'd have to be beside the end block area.Daniel M38925.5853703704

Thanks for the replies so far.

I will have to check some of the links out when I get home.

Good tip on finding threaded inserts at ACE hardware.

Just a reminder that Abe Wechter holds the patent on the removable tail block. He lets anyone use it without a fee or license, but he asks that those who do use it refer to it as his invention, something that has been missing from this discussion.

I think it's important to point out that this isn't a case of someone who adapted an old idea and was the first to make it to the patent office. Wechter seems to be the first to conceive of an access panel in a guitar. In light of his generosity, I think he deserves his propers.

Nothing is new. I saw an access panel in the back of a 1946 Kay bass. It had a pickup inside that was made from a speaker.

Al

Interesting...

I came up with the idea before seeing the two examples I ran accross simply from anticipating a need or desire to experiment a little after everything is glued up, finished and ready to play.

It seems to me that a little door in a box is a little to obvious a thing to claim as one's "invention". But then I've never really been able to relate to the concept of ownership of ideas. The way I see it, ideas are gifts that come from a source greater than ourselves. And has there ever been an idea on the planet that was given to only one person? I don't think so. I realize that an invention is more than just an idea... there's the work of developing and executing it, etc. I don't mind giving credit to someone who's done a lot of that work and really made a great contribution unique to their efforts. I don't know the specifics of Abe's "invention", so I should probably shut up... I just get irked by this invention and patent business... end of rant.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/