Loose binding

[Antney]

I notice my binding has separated at the bass side waist of my guitar. I’m surprised knowing how many coats of lacquer are over it. I can’t go to a luthier until this COVID thing is over, is there anything I should do to prevent it opening up more?

thanks in advance

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

 

[Antney]

that size?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

that size?

Won't come loose again!

 

[Stuball48]

Do you have a luthier you use whom you could talk with and get his/her suggestion until you take the guitar to them?

 

[dreadnut]

a little wood glue and some painter's tape.

 

[wileypickett]

- StewMac

www.stewmac.com

 

[Rebosbro]

It will work, but it’s a little extreme

 

[davismanLV]

- StewMac

www.stewmac.com

What Glenn said above ^^^. Glue and then the blue painters tape to hold until cured. You don't want to use too much because it will squeeze out. Even if a bit does squeeze out as all surfaces are finished and not raw wood, just wipe with a damp towel. That's a pretty easy repair. But if you must wait, it should be fairly stable like this if you're careful with it.

 

[geoguy]

Can you really re-glue that binding if the plastic has shrunk?

 

[GuildFS4612CE]

No you cannot glue down shrunken binding...the wood and the binding expand and contract at different rates...the lacquer has nothing to do with it...the waist is a common area...the cure is to handle it carefully for now and your luthier will cut it and splice a piece in to lengthen it and glue the rest of it down.

 

[adorshki]

No you cannot glue down shrunken binding...the wood and the binding expand and contract at different rates...the lacquer has nothing to do with it...the waist is a common area...the cure is to handle it carefully for now and your luthier will cut it and splice a piece in to lengthen it and glue the rest of it down.

Thank you Jane, exactly what I was thinking. What's interesting is that it actually appears to have "split" between a black and white layer, it looks as though only the outside white layer has shrunk enough to separate from the black layer next to it.

 

[davismanLV]

Just push the binding back in place and see if it will reduce the break or it won't. If it won't then you have to splice and add to the binding, the purfling seems fine, so I'd guess that it will reduce the defect just fine. If you can't easily press the binding back into the waist, then reconsider and consult your luthier. Everyone's jumping to the worst conclusion. If I had it in my hand I could tell you. Don't panic. And if it waits a while, you'll be fine. Okay?

 

[Antney]

Thanks everyone. The stew Mac glue is for attaching binding to wood, my binding has separated plastic to plastic. I’ve sent stewie an email. For now I banged in a small railroad tie as GoG recommended and it seems to be holding, but has added some weight to the guitar and has affected the tone quite a bit.

 

[Stuball48]

Thanks everyone. The stew Mac glue is for attaching binding to wood, my binding has separated plastic to plastic. I’ve sent stewie an email. For now I banged in a small railroad tie as GoG recommended and it seems to be holding, but has added some weight to the guitar and has affected the tone quite a bit.

And balance. But, you will be able to keep on track!!

 

[wileypickett]

I've reglued shrunken binding with no problem.

I've done it "cold" -- just gluing and clamping -- and I've also gently warmed the binding first with a hair dryer and then clamped.

 

[Default]

Binding is layered using acetone. I have been rebuilding the old five layer binding on the X-350, but it is a fiddly process. You could use a tiny natural fiber brush and paint a little acetone between the layers of the binding, then use binding tape to hold it to the rim of the guitar. You would have to be extremely careful, because acetone will damage the finish.

 

[F312]

After all is said and done, keep your guitar humidified properly.

Ralph