Winter Build Off 2022 - Toby-or-not-Toby

[RichterScale]

How does it sound acoustically?

 

[2groggy]

How does it sound acoustically?

As quiet as any other electric. With the solid core and adhered top, there really is no acoustic output to speak of. Think of it like a chambered body without all of the hogged out hardwood.

The next test for the build method will not have the solid core. I hope to build archtop acoustics this way.

 

[RichterScale]

I would've guessed that it had at least a little more resonance than a typical solid body. Nothing crazy, maybe just a tiny more sound when noodling unplugged. Then again, I've never played a hollow or semi hollow. So, I wouldn't know what to expect.
Just curious, none of it matters, it looks fantastic.
Do you like the build process?

 

[2groggy]

...Do you like the build process?

Yes, but I need to come up with a better way to do the sides. I' to go back to bending and laminating veneer if I could figure out an alternative to the bulky molds. I don't mind boiling or steaming the veneer. Using the partially built body as the bending mold just wasn't working. If that was solved, then I could go back to wood binding - I'm not a fan of plastic binding.

The wheels in my mind are turning. They never stop.

 

[RichterScale]

The wheels in my mind are turning. They never stop.

Same here.
Only, my tires are bald and I'm always working in mud.

 

[2groggy]

As quiet as any other electric. With the solid core and adhered top, there really is no acoustic output to speak of. Think of it like a chambered body without all of the hogged out hardwood.

The next test for the build method will not have the solid core. I hope to build archtop acoustics this way.

One more thought on this... Once my Star-Crossed-Caster is completed this weekend, I will be able to compare the acoustic properties of 5 different hollow or semi-hollow builds:

• Toby-or-not-Toby-Caster, semi-hollow with full front and back, adhered to the solid core
• Star-Crossed-Caster, semi-hollow with most of the front and all of the back merely braced. The top is adhered to the solid core under the bridge
• Harlequin, hollow four string laminated archtop two inset pick-ups
• Hollow laminated archtop bass-VI in my profile picture with pick-up mounted to the neck heel
• Thunderbird V flat top acoustic made of many small pieces, glassed on the inside with pick-up mounted to the neck heel