Solid or hollow body T8 non pedal?

[Henry Songer]

I am considering building aT8 non pedal and am wondering if a hollow body would be better than a solid one such as the Fender. I believe the Bixby's were hollow with cast aluminum necks. Any body have some input?
Thanks
Henry

[Allan]

Hi,

There are as many opinions as there are people on that question. It's not a bad question though.
My own opinion is that solid works best. Were you just looking at the options when you considered a hollow body or do you have some experience to base that on? Most self builders don't have the facility to build aluminum necks so for a one off it becomes expensive if you need to find one and buy it.
The other consideration is that if you buy any of the body/neck/tuning head parts you will be restricting your design options to what will fit around those items.
Would this be your first build?

Allan.....

[Henry Songer]

Thanks Allen, Yes it yill be my first build however I do have some experience in sand casting aluminum and I have acces to a bridgeport mill. I fell in love with the looks of the Clinesmith and would like to build something similar. I am aware it will be a long slow process but I hink it would be fun and I would have something I could be proud of. Actually I could machine the necks from aluminum bar stock but I have been told that cast aluminum gives better tone. Henry

[Bent]

Hi Henry,
True, some people claim that cast aluminum (and heavier castings) give better tone. They claim that this is the old ZB pedal steel's claim to great tone.
I am not sure either way, but I definitely love the tone of the ZB