What is your favorite binding?

[Jahn]

I have to say, one of the things that make my happy whenever I play my F-30 is the tortoise binding, which is the same dark rich consistency as the pickguard (unlike the digital red pixelated pickguards on, say, modern Martins). It just seems to be understated yet classy, like the Chesterfield headstock inlay.

Anyone else have a favorite binding? Understanding of course that it should be in context of the guitar - for instance, a nice creamy yellowed multi-ply white/black binding on a Les Paul just seems right on that axe.

 

[bluegrass jubilee]

tortoise
ivoroid
herringbone


those are my faves for sure.

 

[West R Lee]

The binding on my DV72 and DV73 is almost a yellow/gold color. It looks very beige and I think really adds to the looks of the guitars. My other favorite would have to the abalone and maple binding on the D and JF100s.

West

 

[Fstpicker]

I have to say I like wood bindings for the body the best. My Larrivee's have maple bindings on the body, which look really good to me. My GAD-50 has mahogany body bindings which also look and match very nicely.

As far as the neck, I can go either way, with either white ivoroid binding or plain jane black or tortoise. Tortoise is probably the coolest looking of the three I'd say.

Jeff

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Love the wood bindings, especially mahogany.

 

[dreadnut]

I have what I would call a "cream" colored binding on my sunburst DV52, I really goes nicely with the burst.

 

[bluegrass jubilee]

wood too! wood is always very classy looking

i guess i'm not much of a fan of b/w/b, abalone, and purflings. prefer simple elegance.

the guild contemporary series guitars have an ivoroid/red/maple/black binding that i think looks rather nice

i did see a tele recently that had an antique white and was bound with tortoise. very nice combo.

 

[gilligan]

Okay--now that some of you guys commented on the wood binding...

I think they have a great look also, but isn't there a specific purpose for the binding on a body of a guitar? For instance, if you accidentally bump the corner of the guitar, doesn’t the binding help protect the body and keep you from ending up with a ding in the wood? And if that is the case, why would you use wood as a binding material.

I only recall seeing wood used as binding in the past few years (correct me if I’m wrong) and I wonder if it is just used a gimmick to enhance the look of the instrument at the cost of some protection.

The maple binding on the 800 series rosewood Taylors looks great.

gilligan

 

[Jahn]

that's a good question. i know when it comes to humidity, the binding is the last to go - usually it's the wood on the back/sides that warps off the stable binding.

what if it's the first, now that the binding is wood? that thin little wooden strip shrinking/expanding anywhere off the body is going to look funky.

 

[Jeff]

I only recall seeing wood used as binding in the past few years (correct me if I’m wrong) and I wonder if it is just used a gimmick to enhance the look of the instrument at the cost of some protection.

My instructor has a Taylor 914 LTD with some flame maple in the binding. It's very hard to tell the flame in the thin strips used for binding, you almost need a magnifying glass to see it.

Still, It seems the maple would be hard enough to take a pretty good lick & still protect the guitar reasonabley well. It might nick a little more than plastic binding but if you hit the guitar hard enough to break the maple binding, plastic probably wouldn't protect the guitar much better.

Just for fun take a look at the binding on this Taylor

http://www.taylorguitars.com/Guitars/Presentation/

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Okay--now that some of you guys commented on the wood binding...

Every guitar I've ever owned has had some type of plastic for binding, so having wood bindings on My 2 GADS is a new and wonderful experience.

My consensus, all hardwood speaks of quality.

 

[bluegrass jubilee]

binding helps the guitar to take a 'ding', and also covers up any end grain mismatch on the top. also, it's good for covering up any slots for top braces that may have been notched into the side prior to assembly.

oh, and most all acoustics these days have kerfing on the inside of the box where the top and bottom meet the sides that provides added glue surface and reinforcement as well.

wood binding on acoustics has been around a long time. it enjoys the occasional resurgence in popularity, but more often than not, you see it at the boutique level, and is often perceived as an upgrade.

 

[california]

I have to say, one of the things that make my happy whenever I play my F-30 is the tortoise binding, which is the same dark rich consistency as the pickguard (unlike the digital red pixelated pickguards on, say, modern Martins). It just seems to be understated yet classy, like the Chesterfield headstock inlay.

I'm with you -- I played a Tacoma made D-50 in a tobacco burst with a toroise binding and it is incredible how much that added to the look of the guitar. To me the tortoise is a no-brainer on dark finishes, can't understand why it isn't use more often.