BigSteve22
Hero Member
- Messages
- 2,798
So, I've been thinking of doing a Mooncaster for a while now, just couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it. I also wanted to do a P-90 project. Over the last few weeks I was looking at the different Casino models and it occurred to me that I could make a reasonable facsimile of a Casino, at least in looks, by properly appointing a Mooncaster. The result would be kind of the ba$tard child of a Casino and a Jazzmaster, an offset, solid bodied, Casino clone. A "Casinocaster", if you will.
Here's the basics. The body is available in the showcase. Standard sized MojoTone noiseless P-90s with custom rings to give the look of dogears while still allowing flexibility in setting string clearance above the poles. (Already had some preliminary conversations with my favorite machinist about making the rings.) The pickguard is in keeping with the melding theme, and draws together the Pre and Post refinishing looks of Lennon's guitar. (The artwork on the guard is a straight up theft of Lennon's self portrait.) Knobs are gold Gibson Top Hats with chrome inserts. Selector switch is the standard Gibby variety. From there, two differing possibilities arose....
First up, the full Epiphone treatment:
This gave rise to several problems, not he least of which is finding an 82mm TOM style bridge to mate up with the Gotoh 510 bridge insert spacing already drilled in the body. My only option appears to have one custom made. ($$$) Additionally, since a Mooncaster is considerably smaller than a Casino, I would need to buy a tail piece and have it custom modified to fit the reduced distance between the bridge and the edge of the body. I thought about doing this myself, but the mount would also need to be custom made to fit the offset angle of the body. I'm pretty sure a certain Texan could handle both jobs, but I would probably be putting his kids through college.... :icon_biggrin:
So, the second option would be:
Here, the TOM and tailpiece are replaced with a Hipshot "Baby Grand" bridge, which will fit the 82mm spacing. Of course I could use just about any wrap around, stud mounted, bridge. I just like the look of the Hipshot for this application.
Now a couple of questions. The Casino has a top mounted output jack which I would very much like to replicate. I see two possibilities. One, is to simply drill a hole in the top, but I need to be sure I could access the area from the inside. It seems unlikely this body would have the "no chamber behind the bridge" option as it is already drilled for the 510, so it would probably only necessitate drilling into the chamber from the side, but hey, ya never know. Another option would be to mount it in the bottom most control hole, which seems more likely. Anyone done something like this before? How thick is the top around the control mounting holes, and for that matter, behind the bridge? I can relieve the area behind a control mount, but not behind the bridge.
Another question concerns P-90 direct-to-body mounting. The MojoTone pups are supposed to be the same height as a standard P-90. I was thinking of installing inserts for the mounting screws. Anyone done this before? Also, If I get the "P-90 Stacked" route, would there still be enough meat on the bone to use inserts?
Any input will be appreciated. I'm Jones'n to get started.....
Here's the basics. The body is available in the showcase. Standard sized MojoTone noiseless P-90s with custom rings to give the look of dogears while still allowing flexibility in setting string clearance above the poles. (Already had some preliminary conversations with my favorite machinist about making the rings.) The pickguard is in keeping with the melding theme, and draws together the Pre and Post refinishing looks of Lennon's guitar. (The artwork on the guard is a straight up theft of Lennon's self portrait.) Knobs are gold Gibson Top Hats with chrome inserts. Selector switch is the standard Gibby variety. From there, two differing possibilities arose....
First up, the full Epiphone treatment:
This gave rise to several problems, not he least of which is finding an 82mm TOM style bridge to mate up with the Gotoh 510 bridge insert spacing already drilled in the body. My only option appears to have one custom made. ($$$) Additionally, since a Mooncaster is considerably smaller than a Casino, I would need to buy a tail piece and have it custom modified to fit the reduced distance between the bridge and the edge of the body. I thought about doing this myself, but the mount would also need to be custom made to fit the offset angle of the body. I'm pretty sure a certain Texan could handle both jobs, but I would probably be putting his kids through college.... :icon_biggrin:
So, the second option would be:
Here, the TOM and tailpiece are replaced with a Hipshot "Baby Grand" bridge, which will fit the 82mm spacing. Of course I could use just about any wrap around, stud mounted, bridge. I just like the look of the Hipshot for this application.
Now a couple of questions. The Casino has a top mounted output jack which I would very much like to replicate. I see two possibilities. One, is to simply drill a hole in the top, but I need to be sure I could access the area from the inside. It seems unlikely this body would have the "no chamber behind the bridge" option as it is already drilled for the 510, so it would probably only necessitate drilling into the chamber from the side, but hey, ya never know. Another option would be to mount it in the bottom most control hole, which seems more likely. Anyone done something like this before? How thick is the top around the control mounting holes, and for that matter, behind the bridge? I can relieve the area behind a control mount, but not behind the bridge.
Another question concerns P-90 direct-to-body mounting. The MojoTone pups are supposed to be the same height as a standard P-90. I was thinking of installing inserts for the mounting screws. Anyone done this before? Also, If I get the "P-90 Stacked" route, would there still be enough meat on the bone to use inserts?
Any input will be appreciated. I'm Jones'n to get started.....
