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What binding would you use?
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Author:  SnowManSnow [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 2:33 pm ]
Post subject:  What binding would you use?

Curious as to what binding you guys would use on this back and sides. I love the L-1 I just built but it’s going to another home so I need one to keep.

Something plain as not to take away from the beauty of the back and sides or something a little flashier to help tie it together?

Creative thoughts?
It is sapelle btw
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Author:  Colin North [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 2:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Is that the top for this guitar behind?

Author:  meddlingfool [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 2:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

My usual preference is to use offcuts from the sides...

Author:  SnowManSnow [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Colin North wrote:
Is that the top for this guitar behind?

No sir. That’s another back


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Author:  Colin North [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Bubinga
Here's a pic with Myrtle B&S, quite a dark red/brown

Author:  J De Rocher [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

When the wood of the back and sides has dramatic figuring, I tend to favor binding that has little or no figuring and a consistent coloring or use binding that has a very regular and simple repeating figuring pattern like the kind curly koa or maple can have.

Then there's the question of whether or not to have the binding contrast with the back and sides (much lighter color or much darker color) or to have it blend in with or pick up on a color in the back and sides wood.

With that back, I would probably stay away from binding that had a busy, irregular type of figuring, unless it had a nice color and the figuring tended to disappear when the wood darkened under finish. I think the sapele you have speaks for itself and doesn't really need added flash so plain binding of the right color would look good.

What woods are you thinking of using for the fretboard and bridge? Would they be plain or figured?

Author:  bcombs510 [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Do you have enough side height to cut some binding from it? A nice binding of the same material with a thin purfling line on the bottom might look nice.


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Author:  SnowManSnow [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

J De Rocher wrote:
When the wood of the back and sides has dramatic figuring, I tend to favor binding that has little or no figuring and a consistent coloring or use binding that has a very regular and simple repeating figuring pattern like the kind curly koa or maple can have.

Then there's the question of whether or not to have the binding contrast with the back and sides (much lighter color or much darker color) or to have it blend in with or pick up on a color in the back and sides wood.

With that back, I would probably stay away from binding that had a busy, irregular type of figuring, unless it had a nice color and the figuring tended to disappear when the wood darkened under finish. I think the sapele you have speaks for itself and doesn't really need added flash so plain binding of the right color would look good.

What woods are you thinking of using for the fretboard and bridge? Would they be plain or figured?

Simple rosewood at this point, but it’s not in stone. I haven’t even picked the top yet


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Author:  Freeman [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 5:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

My binding choices are always based on a theme for the entire guitar. I like as few conflicting colors or woods as possible. So for yours I would want to know what you envision for the headplate, the rosette, end graft, fretboard and bridge. I would be very tempted to use an offcut of the back for the head plate (often you can use two pieces from near the upper bout to make a bookmatched head). If I was going to use a rosewood fretboard and bridge I would be temped to also make the rosette and binding out of rose. I would consider not binding the f/b since it will carry the body binding, but I would bind the head. I would also consider a thin purfling line around all of the binding except for the top which I would purfle to match the rosette.

Another thought that might look really good with that wood is the "new" ebony with all the wonderful brown grain (what I call the Bob Taylor ebony). It might be really cool to use that for fretboard and bridge, and then match it with an ebony headplate and binding. That might open up other possibilities for the rosette if you wanted pearl or some other look. I think to make ebony work you would want to hand pick each piece to get the grain and colors just right.

Last, but far from least, rip some binding from the sides and simply bind it in the same wood as the back, but put a single contrasting purfling line - probably dark.

Its nice wood, don't rush it

Author:  Clay S. [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Snakewood with no additional purfling lines might look nice. Most of the sapele I've seen has been darker than what you have.

Author:  Rod True [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 7:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

I’m with Freeman. I try to match the binding to the rosette, tailwedge, headstock veneer, heal cap if possible. Or using the off cut from the sides to match the body.

Here’s one I just finished, cocobolo accents all around. Back & Sides are Australian Blackwood.

Image


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Author:  Brad Goodman [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 8:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

On mahogany guitars I have built I have you use the curly koa , rosewood or Ebony depending on which look I’m going for.
Here’s one I’m finishing now
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Author:  Brad Goodman [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Here’s Indian Rosewood binding

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Author:  Brad Goodman [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 9:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Another with Indian Rosewood bonding

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Author:  Pmaj7 [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 9:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Ebony

Author:  Chris Ensor [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 10:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Rosewood, Wenge, Ebony, or Black Walnut. (something dark)

Author:  Alain Desforges [ Sat Mar 16, 2019 10:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Rod True wrote:
I’m with Freeman. I try to match the binding to the rosette, tailwedge, headstock veneer, heal cap if possible. Or using the off cut from the sides to match the body.

Here’s one I just finished, cocobolo accents all around. Back & Sides are Australian Blackwood.

Image


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Rod! Glad to see you're still building. I've taken a... few years hiatus. I'm still plugging away at my house renovations. Things are winding down though. I love those dot markers! Do you buy those or make them yourself?

Oh, and to the OP. I would go with something dark and not too flashy, or as Rod mentioned, maybe using off-cuts to match.

Author:  DennisK [ Sun Mar 17, 2019 1:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Purpleheart. Will be striking when new, and still good after it ages to a more tame purplish brown.

Author:  violinvic [ Sun Mar 17, 2019 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Plain maple.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Sun Mar 17, 2019 1:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Mad Rose - only because I still have some. EIR would probably look good too.

Author:  DannyV [ Mon Mar 18, 2019 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Curly Maple!

Author:  Ernie Kleinman [ Tue Mar 19, 2019 7:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

EIR

Author:  Colin North [ Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Any woods not suggested pipe up or forever hold you peace....
Basic binding choice boils down to the same colour, darker or lighter, as long at it's of a reasonable hardness, but not very hard as it has a function to perform - protect the structure against knocks and bumps.
Hold some wooden strips again your body and pick your choose for the look you want.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Mar 19, 2019 11:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

Sometimes it is good to identify what "vibe" you are looking for with an instrument. Contemporary, traditional, simple, loud, rustic, something more specific. . . sometimes the wood will inspire that decision, sometimes it is the type of instrument and sometimes it is the intended owner.

I like to look at images online of as many guitars as I can to help inspire me or point me in the right directions and compare those with my materials options and design goals. I'm not advocating just ripping off another makers style, just to help develop a direction you might want to go for a given guitar.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Mar 19, 2019 12:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What binding would you use?

I'd use holly, it is pure white. I agree that matching the binding with the rosette and other decorative elements is desireable.

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