Regarding the top carve:

The top clocks in around 0.150" give or take 20 thou. I'm not trying to make the top super resonant. I carve until I go from having a potato chip sound when I tap the top, to where I start getting a higher resonant sustain. Others are likely to have far more informed opinions on this from an electric perspective (as I'm a classical and steel string guy, more so). My thinking is as follows:
1) I want some resonance that provides some sustain and overtone in the guitar - this would contribute to the guitar's tonal character.
2) I do not want so much resonance that I begin to cause feedback issues.
3) the thinner the carve the greater resonance at lower frequencies, I believe.

Given this is a semi-hollow, I suspect #2 is unlikely to be a major issue. But that is my thinking for the top. Of course anyone has a differing opinion I would love to hear a counter argument!

Filippo

Hope this is helpful. If anyone has questions or observations, please feel free to chime in.

Thanks, Bob. Just trying to pass along the story in hopes that it helps others like it helped me when I was figuring this stuff out (and I'm still figuring most of it out!) Credit where credit it due, the techniques for doing the top were all taught to me by Chris Verhoeven. His videos also have some pretty practical advise and show certain ways of doing things.

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Filippo

The folks at Fraser Valley Maple. Call them up and they give amazing deals on lower grade (perfect for electric semi-hollows and full-hollow hybrids). They are great boards, nothing like knots or pitch pockets. Just looser grain than others and the like. Sitka and Engelmann.
Chris

I like you jigs Fillipo. I would build one like this for myself except I don't have a table saw. I am currently shaping my fretboards using a template on my router table.