gilsolomon Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Hi, I'm in the midst of starting a new build. I have a guitar body to build with Swamp Ash as the core wood and Imbuia as the top. I plan to bind it with Bloodwood bindings. However I have an issue to work on. My top is 5/16" thick and the bindings are 1/4" which makes the top thicker and the side of it would be visible. How do you suggest to cope with it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 I would just slightly carve or bevel the outside edge down to 1/4". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdshirtman Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 What kill said, or if you have the machinery to do it like a drum sander you could take off the excess.Have you routed the neck pocket yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsolomon Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Nope it's all in the level of thinking right now... I'm leaning towards beveling as well... Seems like the easiest solution... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 9, 2014 Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 If you go with beveling, I'd suggest binding it first and then beveling so the top edge of the binding is part of the bevel which will keep everything on the same plane. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsolomon Posted January 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2014 Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Why not get thicker binding, or stack it with layers to create a cool effect? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsolomon Posted January 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Why not get thicker binding, or stack it with layers to create a cool effect? I thought about stacking as well but I planning on using Bloodwood bindings and I'm afraid in some places they would not look well enough and I'll also have to do it on both sides (I want to bind the back as well) so it's too much work and too risky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 So just make a 5/16" binding strip. It should be simple enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsolomon Posted January 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 So just make a 5/16" binding strip. It should be simple enough. How do I do that? Do you by chance have a video or a tutorial that shows how to do it? The only thing I have that is long enough for that is a bass fingerboard... But how do I process it to be a straight binding? Thanks for the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Cutting a piece of binding is pretty simple. Start with a board of thesame species you want for the wood binding . You need and make sure that the edge is flat and smooth i.e. Jointed. I use a bandsaw to rip a thin piece off of the edge but you can also do it with a tablesaw. You'll easily have a strip of binding this way. Glued the smooth (jointed) surface of the binding to the guitar. You'll leave the rough part visible but that can be cleaned up easily once the glue has set. You can clean it up with a sander or with a router. If you decide to use a router, be very careful and use a sharp bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsolomon Posted January 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 Nah man, this is too risky I don't want to run anything which is not dead accurate on the guitar itself. I don't trust my router. This is why I use the True Channel Jig for cutting the channel. I think I'll just go for beveling. Thanks anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted January 10, 2014 Report Share Posted January 10, 2014 If you don't want to trim the binding thickness on the guitar, sand it down using a drill press sander or thickness sander (assuming you have one or the other) before you glue it on. Doing it on the guitar is more accurate IMO but each his own, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim37 Posted January 11, 2014 Report Share Posted January 11, 2014 (edited) Paint the sides black (from binding down) with a burst on the back Edited January 11, 2014 by Tim37 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsolomon Posted February 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 Paint the sides black (from binding down) with a burst on the back Thanks, But the guitar is to be oil finished and paint is out of the question since there are top and back bindings and I want the wood to be visible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I'm with guitar2005 on this one. Add a purfling layer under the binding to bring the height up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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