Custom Acoustic Guitar Binding, Don't Underestimate The Part

What Is Binding for Acoustic Guitars

For years, when custom guitar, we seldom met clients who actively expressed their requirement of binding. Frequently, we confirm the specific of binding with the clients during inquiry. The reason this happened may because binding has no affection on tonal performance, thus, it is easily be ignored.

Actually, binding should not be underestimated like that.

Binding refers to the part that around the acoustic guiar body and sometimes also around the back and neck to protect the edges.

Normally, binding is located at where the top and the side meet. If also be attached on the back, it is located at where the back and side meet. For neck, the binding is at the space between fretboard and neck.

The material for binding includes wood, abalone and plastic, etc. As mentioned, the binding is commonly known for protection of guitar edges. Another function is usually underestimated. Binding is an important part of decoration which to make aesthetic appeal of acoustic guitar.

In this article, we will explain why the binding should be used, what material is commonly used.

Why Binding is Essential in Custom Guitar?

Although binding is often ignored to custom acoustic guitars as mentioned, it is essential in guitar building. The functionality is mainly on aesthetics, structural rigidity, comfortability and protection. Thus, we will start at the four aspects to explain why binding is necessary. At last, it is also necessary for us to explain why binding does not impact tone.

1. Aesthetics Building

This maybe the main reason why binding is important in custom acoustic guitars. Theoretically, any color and style of binding designation can be applied on guitar although there is limitation by material (wood, plastic, abalone, etc.) in reality. But it can’t be denied that a brilliant binding will make premium and luxurious feeling. This may greatly help to increase sells of guitars and make cheap models looks like high-ends.

2. Structural Rigidity Building

We all know that top and back have to be glued to the side when construct acoustic guitars. And the joint is definitely robust. The binding acts like an extra sealing to reinforce the joint and gives protection from moisture and humidity. This is a great help if oily hands or legs may touch the side and neck.

3. Comfortability

Comfortability here doesn’t refer to the playability, but the feeling when hands or arms touched the side of neck and body of acoustic guitar.

Firstly, binding is an easily rounded part. Therefore, it can avoid sharp edges of neck (fretboard) and side of body. When hands press and slide on the fretboard, it will feel smoother. The same when arms rest on the side of body.

This makes comfort feeling when playing. Besides, also provide a feeling of robust quality.

4. Protection from Artificial Damage

It is common that bang on the desk or smack into the doorframe, etc., the edge of guitar body or neck is usually and can be easily damaged because of that.

When the damage happened, the repairing can be a suffering process. With binding, the acoustic guitar will be reinforced to against banging and smacking, etc.

Well, we have done a lot of experiments to confirm if the binding is a factor that impacts the tone. No matter with ears or detection device, we didn’t find any tonal difference on guitar with binding and without binding. Because it is said by many players and even builders that the binding impact the tone.

At least, till now we find no difference. Therefore, in our opinion, binding is not an element that influences the tonal performance of guitar.

Material for Binding

As mentioned, wood, abalone and plastic are commonly used for making the binding.

Let’s start at wood material. This kind of binding is commonly found on high-end acoustic guitars, especially, on classical guitars. Because of the scarcity and difficulty of making, wood binging commonly has higher cost. Rosewood, Ebony and Koa, etc. are usually used for making of the binding.

Abalone binding is getting more and more popular here. We think mainly because of its unique figure that can make unique aesthetics enjoyment. However, we seldom see this kind of binding is used on the low-end acoustic guitars.

Plastic refers to ABS, Celluloid, etc. There are advantages of plastic binding. Firstly, the cost is lower than others. Secondly, it is easier to cut and install. Third, the color range is wider, white and black is the most commonly seen style, even the material can be used for create faux tortoiseshell style binding.

Custom Guitar Binding According to Your Needs

For most of time, our clients won’t take much time on the binding style design. They just try to use existed binding as their convenience. However, once you need to custom binding on the custom guitar that you have ordered, we can handle that for you.

If you have any needs, please feel free to CONTACT US for specific consultation.