I started keeping bees this year. My first hive was a Top Bar that I built myself. No frames. I put the first swarm I caught in there and they stayed for a few days and built a little comb. I left a feeder bag for them, and had to go on a trip. When I got back 3 days later, they had absconded. A week later, I caught another small swarm and put them in. That was April 16th. Those bees love it in there. I've got them in too much shade, and will move them out a few feet before cold weather, but they are doing well. And I really enjoy inspecting the hive. Every couple of weeks I go in there and look through the comb to see that all is well. When the comb is new, it is dangerous to move it too much during hot weather. But after it ages a couple of weeks and the weather isn't blazing hot, I can turn the combs over and look at what I want. I will admit that I do not turn the comb over when it is fully drawn out now. It's so tall. Don't want to risk the loss. The thing that is critical in keeping a TBH is watching for and correcting cross-comb. I have had very little trouble with cross-comb, but when I saw it starting on the farthest out bars, I either straightened it, or cut it out. The girls have kept straight comb in there, and have attached very little to the sides of the box. It's a breeze to go through the hive, and fun. I love my TBH. Plan to fill another next year and run two from here on out. I also have 4 lang hives now, but I started with the TBH.