Floating Archtop Style Bridge on Mooncaster

[wrldsvryfrst]

Hey all!
I'm interested in building a Mooncaster with a floating bridge and tailpiece like you'd find on an archtop.
Seems theoretically possible given the carved top that can take a TOM.
Has anybody tried this on one of their builds?
What about a floating neck pickup?

 

[supertruper1988]

Archtops usually have well over an inch of clearance because the neck is set in such a way that it is taller than the top of the body to allow for the most resonance of the top. The Moon Caster is set up for a traditional post mounted Tom, which does not give enough clearance for a traditional floating base arch top bridge. If you were to build a non-adjustable one within the height parameters it would work, but there is no tonal benefits because it is not a hollow body. Same for the floating neck pick up. The reasoning is to allow for the most top vibration, but the Moon Caster is a semi Hollow design that does not depend on the free vibration of the top.

 

[TBurst Std]

Actually it is not even semi hollow (it does not use separate pieces of wood for the sides, top, and back). It is a heavily chambered solid wood body with a top veneer. A radically different construction method than a semi hollow.

 

[supertruper1988]

Actually it is not even semi hollow (it does not use separate pieces of wood for the sides, top, and back). It is a heavily chambered solid wood body with a top veneer. A radically different construction method than a semi hollow.

Technically correct is the best kind of correct

 

[Hodgo]

You could, however, totally mount a wooden arch top bridge on TOM inserts and ground the tailpiece for that archtop aesthetic. As the other fellas said, it’s an aesthetic choice, not a requirement.

 

[TBurst Std]

If it’s a desired look, get an angled neck pocket. Look to a Gretsch for inspiration.