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Mooncaster Body Dimensions

tindigits

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Hello all!

I'm considering a Mooncaster body for my next project but I can't get a handle on the actual body dimensions.  I have heard that it is smaller than a Starcaster but Warmoth can't seem to provide the measurements for me.

Help would be much appreciated!
 
I'm pretty sure it's exactly the same size as a Starcaster. Warmoth is licensed to manufacture Fender parts, so they have no reason to fudge specs to avoid lawsuits.

But, so you know...

upper bout width = 10 3/4"
waist width = 9"
lower bout width = 14"
body length = 18"
thickest point including TOM bridge ~3"
overall length w/ Strat neck = 38 1/2"

It's sort of an offset design so it's difficult to measure exactly, but those numbers should be good within 1/4".

Good luck finding a case. Close as I can tell, you can't get there from here, and I've looked extensively. You're probably going to end up with an oversized case that you'll have to stuff with pillows or something.
 
AFAIK the Fender licence only applies to necks (headstock shapes anway).

Anyway, that's useful info for me too, Kevin - I take it those measurements are from a Warmoth body?
 
Yes, it's a Warmoth Mooncaster body, and those dimensions are very close. It's not nearly as big a guitar as it looks in the pics, but it's too big to fit the usual cases due to the lower bout width. The closest I've been able to find are these...

wcsh_01.jpg

...but while the inside width dimension of the case itself is sufficient, by the time they pad it you're out of room by about 3/4" and there's not a helluva lotta padding there. Maybe an inch. If you modified it, you might get the instrument in, but you'd want some really dense foam due to how thin it would have to be to accommodate. Might not be much protection at that point. Probably would depend on who's carrying it.

For more standard sized guitars/basses, though, they're a helluva lotta case for $109.
 
Thanks Cagey.  You just saved me a lot of money and disappointment! The Mooncaster must be some sort of 7/8 version of a Starcaster.

The original Fenders were around 15.5 at the lower bout, not as big as a 335 at 16", but a lot heftier than a thin line tele.

Makes me wonder about the Nomad compared to an Explorer also! Another scaled down version?

Thanks again.  Still searching for the next body I guess.


 
Not trying to catch you out here Kevin, but where did you measure the length? If the overall max dimensions are 14"x16.5" it would look like the pic on the right:

DwrHjZb.jpg


Could the 16.5" be from the top of the heel? If so, that'd make the overall length including the top horn about 18", which matches what I have on the 'drawing board' - just scaled from photos, but otherwise matching your numbers.
 
tindigits said:
...Makes me wonder about the Nomad compared to an Explorer also! Another scaled down version?

Yep, my understanding is that the Nomad is somewhat smaller than an Explorer.
 
Sorry, you're right. I measured from the top of the heel, not the top of the upper horn. So, the 18" number is the correct body length.
 
Late to the party, but I thought I might make a useful contribution... I measured my Mooncaster and got the flowing dimensions (+/- 1/4"):

Length (Upper horn): 18"
Lower Horn: 15 3/4"
Upper bout: 10 1/4"
Waist: 8 3/8"
Lower bout: 13 3/4"

The case is a Roadrunner, but I forget the model name and can't find a model number anywhere. It fits, but as you can see, there is precious little padding for the lower bout.
 

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No kidding. I'm envious!

I like the way the measurements are given, with the scale against the part as opposed to simply reporting numbers. Lots more information that way. I'll have to remember that next time I'm volunteering.

Do I see a Fishman Triple Play setup on there? If so, how do you like it?
 
Cagey said:
Do I see a Fishman Triple Play setup on there? If so, how do you like it?

Yep. Love it. I've always been a midi/electronic music nerd since the original Cakewalk program, so it's a lot of fun.  Getting the height adjusted right for this setup was a little tricky though - almost need a shim that's a little thicker than the thickest one they provided. (Would have been better on a Strat setup).

Even beyond playing with midi software instruments, the best thing about it is that I now record a midi track with every guitar audio track so that 6 months down the line when I can't remember a solo or how the h*ll I phrased a certain chord, I can pull up the music notation and re-educate myself!
 
Excellent. I just ordered one over the weekend that should be here tomorrow. Coming from a place similar to what you describe. I also have IK Multimedia's new "MODO Bass" package, which sounds fantastic, and I'm thinking I'll be able to turn the guitar into a bass that way, and lay down tracks with it.
 
I've been looking for a case for my Mooncaster locally. Took it to the local guitar shop and tried every case they had and none of them fit. It wasn't until I got home that it occurred to me to check the cases I already had.

As expected it didn't come close to fitting the Strat case but it fits quite snugly in terms of width in my American Vintage reissue Jazzmaster case. The Mooncaster body is shorter than a Jazzmaster, so there's space above the upper horn and headstock, but with a bit of DIY spirit you could easily buy some foam to fill those spaces. The other fit issue is that the carved top means that the bridge is pressed into the soft foam of the top of the case when it's closed, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Df0u9C6.jpg


In the absence of a better option I'm thinking of grabbing one of these and making a few modifications myself.
 
Maybe we've been looking for the wrong thing by calling for a "guitar" case. I found out SKB makes what they call a "utility" case that happens to have the dimensions that you need for that Mooncaster, and I need for my L5S. The one pictured below is offered 4 ways - a 3i-4214-5B-L (pictured below, contains layered foam you can cut to form-fit) and the same thing empty. Those are 5" deep, 42" long and 14.5" wide (interior dimensions). They have two more in the same configurations that are 7" deep. The 5" units w/ foam run between $180 and $210 here (empty or foamed), I didn't search out the 7" deep models.

isku_view_image.php

I have a couple of those cases already with form-fitting interiors for other guitars, didn't realize you could get them in such a way as to make your own custom interior. Anyway, they're mil-spec cases that will take one helluva beating, and are even gasketed waterproof. If you're considering $400+ for a typical Fender plywood case, one of these would be far superior with a little bit of interior work.
 
The guitar shop said SKB was their supplier of choice so you may well be onto a winner there, though I shudder to think what the Australia Tax will do to those prices.

That said, on closer inspection of the Mooncaster in the Jazzmaster case I realised the body wasn't sitting flat, so it was resting on the neck. Sub-optimal in any case. I'll give the shop a call tomorrow.
 
I like those SKB utility cases. A good sharp knife or an electric knife will cut the foam easily so fitting is no big deal.
 
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