Tell me about - The Mooncaster

[rauchman]

Greetings,

I built a Warmoth Tele last year and have the bug to build something new this year.  One of the bodies that I'm considering is the Mooncaster.  I've been fascinated with this body since I first starting researching "I want to build a guitar for myself" with the Tele project.  Sort of 335'ish, yet Fenderish.

Some questions.....

• Assuming the same woods, I'm assuming that sonically, the Mooncaster and say a chambered/hollow body Tele/Strat/VIP are going to be very similar in sound?
  Objectively, is there an advantage to the Mooncaster over a chamber/hollow body Tele/Strat/VIP?
  How is the upper register access?  I don't know since I've never a Mooncaster in the wild, but the lower horn doesn't look like it allows easy/much access to the upper frets?
  For those that have built a Mooncaster, what did you like / dislike about it?
  Are these good platforms for a tremolo?
  Are these comfortable to play? 

I see a few of these in the showcase made with maple bodies and tops.  I have no idea how maple would sound as a body wood.  I would assume very bright?

Thanks!

 

[spe111]

I don't have any specific experience with mooncasters, but I believe they would sound more like a chambered solid body, which usually doesn't sound that much different than a non-chambered solid body.

They don't have the same construction as a hollowbody or a semi-hollowbody, so it wouldn't sound so much like them.

Also, it depends on how you're going to use it. Perfectly clean through a twin reverb you'll hear more difference than cranked through a full stack marshall.

 

[Cagey]

I concur with Mr. Spe111. All I'd add to that is if you want your pickup selector switch in one of the forward horns, be prepared for a nightmare installation. There's no access panel, and the fit is so tight that only one or two kinds of switch will fit, and even that is very tricky business - much more so than you'd expect from something like one of the ES series Gibbys or a Gretsch, etc. I don't know what they were thinking about with that whole thing. I've wired lotsa hollow/semi-hollow body guitars, but nothing was ever quite the challenge that body is.

Other than those things, it's a very attractive piece. Kinda like a 3/4 size ES325, or one of Fender's old "Starcaster" fiddles.

 

[BigSteve22]

Some questions.....

Some answers(?).....

Assuming the same woods, I'm assuming that sonically, the Mooncaster and say a chambered/hollow body Tele/Strat/VIP are going to be very similar in sound?
Plugged in, yes. Without the amp, the Mooncaster is louder, and much more "Hollow" sounding, although not having true hollow body type construction, it's not the same sound as a 335.

Objectively, is there an advantage to the Mooncaster over a chamber/hollow body Tele/Strat/VIP?
I'm not sure what advantage your looking for, but it's basically a solid body, albeit with a really large chambering, so the usual rules sort of apply.

How is the upper register access? I don't know since I've never a Mooncaster in the wild, but the lower horn doesn't look like it allows easy/much access to the upper frets?
The bottom of the lower horn cut out is level with the 21st fret on my 24.75" scale neck. So, although I don't usually have a need to, I can reach the 22nd fret without hurting myself.

For those that have built a Mooncaster, what did you like / dislike about it?
I find the offset body fits my style of playing: Generally seated, BB King type blues. No real dislikes.

Are these good platforms for a tremolo?
Mine does not have a trem, I really have no use for one. But, if they can put a Bigsby on a Gretsch....

Are these comfortable to play?
I find mine extremely comfortable to play.

Hope this helps, all answers just IMHO, your mileage may vary!  :headbang1:

 

[TBurst Std]

Greetings,

I built a Warmoth Tele last year and have the bug to build something new this year.  One of the bodies that I'm considering is the Mooncaster.  I've been fascinated with this body since I first starting researching "I want to build a guitar for myself" with the Tele project.  Sort of 335'ish, yet Fenderish.

Some questions.....

• Assuming the same woods, I'm assuming that sonically, the Mooncaster and say a chambered/hollow body Tele/Strat/VIP are going to be very similar in sound?
  Objectively, is there an advantage to the Mooncaster over a chamber/hollow body Tele/Strat/VIP?
  How is the upper register access?  I don't know since I've never a Mooncaster in the wild, but the lower horn doesn't look like it allows easy/much access to the upper frets?
  For those that have built a Mooncaster, what did you like / dislike about it?
  Are these good platforms for a tremolo?
  Are these comfortable to play? 

I see a few of these in the showcase made with maple bodies and tops.  I have no idea how maple would sound as a body wood.  I would assume very bright?

Thanks!

First off, a Mooncaster is built nothing like a semi- hollow (335, Gretsch center block, etal), and is even more removed fro a hollow body (330, non center block Gretsch, etal)

The construction method is radically different.  Think more Gibson Midtown or PRS semi- hollow (which is not a true semi-hollow)

 

[Unwound G]

I concur with Mr. Spe111. All I'd add to that is if you want your pickup selector switch in one of the forward horns, be prepared for a nightmare installation. There's no access panel, and the fit is so tight that only one or two kinds of switch will fit, and even that is very tricky business - much more so than you'd expect from something like one of the ES series Gibbys or a Gretsch, etc. I don't know what they were thinking about with that whole thing. I've wired lotsa hollow/semi-hollow body guitars, but nothing was ever quite the challenge that body is.

Other than those things, it's a very attractive piece. Kinda like a 3/4 size ES325, or one of Fender's old "Starcaster" fiddles.

Can you expound further on the 3 way toggle pickup switch installation issue ? I am in the process of ordering Mooncaster and would like the switch at the top bout.

Thanks

 

[Cagey]

I thought I wrote a big thing on it, but I can't find it now. Anyway, first off, the only "traditional" switch that seems to fit is the Switchcraft L-shaped toggle such as was used in some SGs...

Also, you're going to want one of those "deep reach" nuts for mounting it like this...

Even then it's still not gonna really wanna fit. You'll want to pre-wire it with shielded cable long enough to give you some room to play later. Then, you thread a string through the mounting hole and back out an F-hole, and tie it to the switch's toggle. Remove the toggle's tip - it'll unthread.
You'll need some spacer(s) between the switch body and the inside of the guitar body's top, so perhaps a stack of 2-3 washers? Thread those on the string so they'll sit on the switch. Then, you pull the switch into the body through the F-hole and - just finagle it into the mounting hole. Sorry, I don't know a better way to describe that. It's gonna fight a bit, is all I'm saying. But, it'll eventually sorta "turn into" the hole, and you hold it in place while you thread the neep nut over the string and mount the switch.

The reason for the spacers is the interior of that body isn't flat. It's machined out of solid chunk of wood and due to the shape of that switch there just isn't room for it to sit in there properly. It has to sit off the inside of that top a bit in order to be square to the body. Kinda goofy, but you'll see what I mean when you get that far.

You might also want to cover that body with some anti-mutilation film or wide low-tack masking of some sort because you're liable to handle it a LOT. You'll need all the patience you can muster as you may end up taking several passes at the whole exercise. Warmoth really needs to re-think that part of the design.

 

[Kostas]

If you want to make a custom guitar with unique looks the Mooncaster fits the bill. The sound depends on your choice of pickups. As mentioned, the Mooncaster is no 335 because of it's construction. For a guitar with a different sound & feel go further and check hollow body guitars in a shop. ES-330 & Casino models/clones, a few Gretsches etc. They have a different feel & sound because they are totally hollow. I discovered the 330 by accident (while I was looking for a 335) and it became one of my favorite guitars.

If you are asking for a strat tremolo the center block allows it, you can see it on the body builder. You can even put a Floyd.

One of the nicest Mooncasters I've seen is this one, I like the clean look of the hardware simplicity and the metallic color compared to figured tops with hardware that takes a lot of space like a Bigsby. I also prefer every other headstock than the original.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=542091

 

[Rick]

A trip to a local guitar store might be useful.  Guitar center will ship squire versions in April.  You could buy one, use it for a couple weeks and return it.