Mooncaster "Burning Absinthe" with Green Burst Finish

[alexreinhold]

Hi all,

[DONE]

Build time again! I've actually been on this one for a few weeks already but haven't had the time to update much. So I will give a recap of what happened in a few posts. Once done, I will edit this post with the final results.

The idea: My style is very straight forward - I either play Strat-style guitars (I have 3 + a Dinky-style) or V/Tele-Style metal machines (I have 2 Vs and 2 tele style metal guitars). All my needs are served with my arsenal of guitars but a) I missed doing a build and b) I wanted to try something completely different. So, over xmas 2025, I was stupid enough to go to a music store and try a few Gretsch guitars. I really liked a lot of things (especially the Filtertron potential), but I also did not like some things (the feel I guess?). So I went into a rabbit hole to figure out what I want.

Long story short: I wanted to a) do my very first burst finish, b) have my first semi-hollow guitar, c) do my first guitar with bindings (still not sure about that one) and d) enter the world of Filtertrons. Here are the specs.

Body:

• Swamp Ash Mooncaster with Flame Maple Top, Ivoroid binding and 2 F-Holes
• TV Jones with Ears
• Gotoh Wraparound bridge
• Green/Orange Burst finish with water-based stains and Tru-Oil

Neck:

• Roasted Flame Maple Meadowhawk with Ebony Macassar fretboard and Ivoroid binding
• Wolfgang neck profile (yup, experimental haha), 10-16 compound, SS6115 frets (as always..)

Wiring/Pickups:

• TV Jones Powertron in bridge, TV Jones Classic in neck
• One vol (treble bleed), no tone, 3-way toggle
• Treble Bleed

 

[alexreinhold]

Here's the naked body and neck:

 

[alexreinhold]

The finishing plan:

• end result: green/orange burst on front, dark brown (barn look) on sides and back
• step 1: brown stain on front, black stain on back to pop grain -> sand back
• step 2: burst on front, brown stain on back
• step 3: tru oil
• step 4: polish & wax

Oh and of course... all the sandings, tears and frustrations in between.

This was my blueprint for the end result:

 

[alexreinhold]

Step 1: View attachment 68308



Sanded down:





Now you see the problem... It was sooo hard to sand down the back. I could have gone on and hate my life. But then I figured that I wanted to go "barn door" anyway. So I worked with the "dirty" version.

 

[alexreinhold]

I went on to paint the front orange and the back brown





On the back there were a lot of imperfections. While I hate relic, I do like to see that a guitar was actually experimented with. So I decided to leave it just like that.

Before I moved forward, I used India ink to tattoo the guitar with something gimmicky (I tend to do this with pretty much every guitar I build). So I added the Hebrew letters for "alive" to the upper horn:

 

[alexreinhold]

On to the front... My first burst finish. It was CRAZY hard but I kind of went into flow mode and then it just happened. I am very happy with the end result.

Starting from the outside (black) with the orange ground coat. In the back you can see me test wood


And here's how it turned out:

 

[alexreinhold]

And then tru oil:

5 coats:




17 coats:



Now it will be drying for 3 weeks. So there won't be a lot of updates. But meanwhile, here's the amazing neck plate - as always ordered from the amazing TLC Guitar Goods (amazing shop in Holland, for all Europeans - I am NOT affiliated!)

 

[rockandroller]

Wow! excellent work I really like how that 'barn door' turned out.

 

[Spud]

And then tru oil:

5 coats:
View attachment 68318

View attachment 68319

17 coats: View attachment 68320

View attachment 68321

Now it will be drying for 3 weeks. So there won't be a lot of updates. But meanwhile, here's the amazing neck plate - as always ordered from the amazing TLC Guitar Goods (amazing shop in Holland, for all Europeans - I am NOT affiliated!)

View attachment 68322

Nice job Alex! Looks great. Also glad to know you keep toilet paper near in case of emergency!

 

[Spud]

You have really inspired me Alex, does this pickguard look ok?

 

[alexreinhold]

You have really inspired me Alex, does this pickguard look View attachment 68331ok?

LOL here's the deal though. I ran out of kitchen towels and then used toilet paper (which I simply never switched back to kitchen towels). Purpose was to wipe off any excess stain, instantly clean accidents on my desk and wipe off excess tru oil from the container where I put it before applying.

Long story short: kitchen towels / paper towels are actually crucial for a finish like this

 

[Spud]

LOL here's the deal though. I ran out of kitchen towels and then used toilet paper (which I simply never switched back to kitchen towels). Purpose was to wipe off any excess stain, instantly clean accidents on my desk and wipe off excess tru oil from the container where I put it before applying.

Long story short: kitchen towels / paper towels are actually crucial for a finish like this

Oh................I understand, your saying it serves a dual purpose.

 

[alexreinhold]

Oh................I understand, your saying it serves a dual purpose.

 

[mayfly]

oooOOOooo! That's a nice finish there so far!

 

[teleme01]

The tru oil really sets it off

 

[alexreinhold]

oooOOOooo! That's a nice finish there so far!

Thanks!! Im very happy how it came out.

The tru oil really sets it off

EVERY time I apply the first coat of tru oil in something, my mind blows

 

[alexreinhold]

Sorry for the late update. Tru oil drying time is the culprit.

After the guitar was fully dried, I did the following:

• buff the guitar with polish and birchwood casey wax
• spot fix the binding with a razor blade
• apply copper tape which turns out to be a b*tch on semi hollow guitars

The body looked amazing:


Then I did the following:

• install tuners, strap locks, pickups, bridge, etc.
• wire everything (very simple H-H, one volume, no tone setup with treble bleed)
• install neck

Before I went to do a full setup, I noticed I had to do A LOT of fretwork. This was my first bound neck and it seems Warmoth is not as meticulous with the fret ends as with non-bound necks. Take a look at how aggressive the fret ends stuck out:



After the whole 9 yards (leveling, crowning, beveling, polishing), the neck was smooth as silk (in fact, I absolutely love the Wolfgang profile):


Then a few spot fixes here and there, a full setup... and I was done

 

[alexreinhold]

So here's the end product. I am very proud of this build. It was my first time doing a burst finish and my first time working with a bound body and neck. Strangely, I was not as excited about this build as I was about other builds. But since the guitar has been finished, I have been playing it non stop. I absolutely fell in love with it.

HERE IS THE LINK to the Guitars & Bass Gallery.

 

[rauchman]

Absolutely stunning guitar. I've been Mooncaster curious for some time.

I understand the body size is in range of a Strat? How is upper fret access, and how does it hang on a strap or sitting down?

 

[Rick]

Whoa! That came out great! How does it sound? I bet that filter Tron tone is what hooked you. I'm thinking about using that same pickup combo in my next build (also a mooncaster!).