Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

[treyhaislip]

So I have an older Warmoth 7/8 Strat project that I got into that needs the binding installed. I have never done it before and don't want to do my first one on this pretty of a top (Flamed Redwood on Honduran Mahogany.)

Does anyone know of someone who would do the binding? The body was verified by Warmoth and they sent me the binding that fits it (long story short, the original buyer passed away, RIP, and it was sold and then resold to me but the original binding with it got lost in the movage.)

I've called the local shops/luthiers and have none of them want to touch it. So.....does anyone know someone who does this kind of work? I've tried Googling but my search has come up empty handed.

Thanks for the help!

Here is the Guitar and Neck (Mahogany+Dark Ebony Board)

View attachment 64067

Here is the body wet, I love the look of the Flamed Redwood
View attachment 64068

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Ayrton(sp?) may be able to help,mebbe PM him?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Ayrton(sp?) may be able to help,mebbe PM him?

Thank you for the info! I will look him up and send him in a PM.

I'm definitely not looking for a freebie on this, want to pay to have it done right! I was just shocked that virtually nobody in Atlanta would do it. I even called up a luthier school and they would not even recommend anyone other than to enroll in their school.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

I got a buddy up here in Middle Tennessee that may do it. I would have to ask him if he does that. If not, I know that he knows somebody that can do it. Thane was the custom shop manager a Guild for years and years, and he also worked at Gibson for years and years before that. I could ask him for you if you would like. I think he charges either $60 or $80 per hour for his work. I can't remember which, but I think it is $60.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

I just called and left him a message.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

I got a buddy up here in Middle Tennessee that may do it. I would have to ask him if he does that. If not, I know that he knows somebody that can do it. Thane was the custom shop manager a Guild for years and years, and he also worked at Gibson for years and years before that. I could ask him for you if you would like. I think he charges either $60 or $80 per hour for his work. I can't remember which, but I think it is $60.

I just called and left him a message.

Just now seeing this! Thank you very much for leaving a message!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

binding isnt that hard, not sure why you are having trouble finding someone local to do it. are the edges routed already?

 

[HALENisking]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Good lord, the wet flame on that. I hope you bring it out with the finish.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

binding isnt that hard, not sure why you are having trouble finding someone local to do it. are the edges routed already?

From what I've seen and heard, the binding shouldn't be too terrible...I just don't want to practice on such, IMO, a beautiful piece.

Yes, the edges are routed and the Warmoth binding wraps around it perfectly, won't need too much cutting and sanding.

Good lord, the wet flame on that. I hope you bring it out with the finish.

Thank you very much! And yes, definitely going to stain it to try and bring out as much of the flame as possible! Its a very unique flame that goes horizontal and vertical...I love it and the picture does not do it justice!

And any ideas for colors, please throw them my way! Hardware and binding are black FWIW.

Thanks again!

 

[HALENisking]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

I would keep the color natural looking, just bring it out with thin/similar color stain. That's just my opinion though. Be hard to go wrong with a top like that honestly.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

I would keep the color natural looking, just bring it out with thin/similar color stain. That's just my opinion though. Be hard to go wrong with a top like that honestly.

Thanks! Am thinking about adding a touch of something like Cherry/Walnut to add just a bit of a darker tint, but not too much as I want to show off the natural wood grain.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Yah, really nice top on that!

 

[AlexR]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

You can't really stuff up the guitar (wood), but you can sure ruin/break the binding itself. I have made a few guitars with binding now, and the easiest method I know is to tape the binding firmly in place first, especially in the inside corners (a hairdryer helps with softening it for around the horns). You then use a pipette with acetone and apply it on the top on the edge of the wood. The acetone seeps into the gap and sticks it in place - there is no need to hold anything in place as its already held by the tape. You can add tape in more places as needed.......done.

Photos show tape used to hold binding in place, then tape added to make sure of a continuous tight bond.
Any residue simply gets cleaned up with acetone.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Yah, really nice top on that!

Thanks! I am looking forward to it getting finished!

You can't really stuff up the guitar (wood), but you can sure ruin/break the binding itself. I have made a few guitars with binding now, and the easiest method I know is to tape the binding firmly in place first, especially in the inside corners (a hairdryer helps with softening it for around the horns). You then use a pipette with acetone and apply it on the top on the edge of the wood. The acetone seeps into the gap and sticks it in place - there is no need to hold anything in place as its already held by the tape. You can add tape in more places as needed.......done.

Photos show tape used to hold binding in place, then tape added to make sure of a continuous tight bond.
Any residue simply gets cleaned up with acetone.

Thank you for the info! Basically all of the stuff I read online was the same–hair dryer to heat up the binding and use tape frequently to hold the binding in place while the glue dries...I just don't want to practice on such a beautiful top, especially the scraping and sanding part.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

The scraping/sanding is certainly the biggest downside, but if the binding is accurately sized for the channel then this is minimised. I don't know about your particular body, but most raw wood ones I have bought need some finish sanding anyhow. I tend to go to 400 myself, which means by the time you have got it to paint time the binding is flush too.

Remember - if you are paying someone to do a fiddly time consuming job then its most likely to be a wallet consuming job too. I wouldn't be surprised that the binding addition and levelling came out to the same as the cost of the body.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

The scraping/sanding is certainly the biggest downside, but if the binding is accurately sized for the channel then this is minimised. I don't know about your particular body, but most raw wood ones I have bought need some finish sanding anyhow. I tend to go to 400 myself, which means by the time you have got it to paint time the binding is flush too.

Remember - if you are paying someone to do a fiddly time consuming job then its most likely to be a wallet consuming job too. I wouldn't be surprised that the binding addition and levelling came out to the same as the cost of the body.

Thanks for the advice; however, as an accountant I've seen the results of people who don't have experience & knowledge of tax law trying to do their taxes on their own and screwing things up–by the time my (former) firm was done fixing the problem it would have been cheaper to have gone to us in the first place. I have no problem paying a reputable guitar tech for a job well done. I went to school and got a degree to do my work, I have no problem paying others for the same. I do appreciate your advice, its just this is a rare top that I don't want to screw up by lack of experience & knowledge.

On a side note, Jolly has been awesome and it trying to get me connected to a guy who worked at the Guild Custom Shop in Nashville who may do the binding and have a reference for a guy who does pristine staining & finish work. It was a real pleasure talking to Jolly on the phone, he has gone out of his way to help me out. :yourock:

 

[AlexR]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Yeah, having done 2/3 of a commerce degree (before getting bored) I know the pitfalls of tax.

Anyhow, hope you get it sorted and post some pics.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Update: Shout out to Jolly–passed along a contact who may be able to help me with the project, requested additional info and close up pics of the routing. Thanks again to Jolly, you rock man!

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

I got a buddy up here in Middle Tennessee that may do it. I would have to ask him if he does that. If not, I know that he knows somebody that can do it. Thane was the custom shop manager a Guild for years and years, and he also worked at Gibson for years and years before that. I could ask him for you if you would like. I think he charges either $60 or $80 per hour for his work. I can't remember which, but I think it is $60.

Jolly is awesome! I dropped the guitar off with Thane--will have the binding as well as stained/painted by a former Fender/Guild Custom Shop employee. Looking forward to the project going to the next step! Pictures will be posted once I get it back.

Thanks Jolly!

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Guitar Binding - Know Anyone Who Does This?

Oh Hell Yeah!!!