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Hi folks

I've got three in the works, all to have compound cutaways - so they're two point instruments, with the cutaways finishing flush with the heel, which is tapered.

For further fun, these are Ridgebacks - like a Vega cylinder back mandolin or plectrum lute with a hump like a speed bump running from tail to heel on the back.

Consequently, the angle the back makes with the rib is progressively more obtuse in the cutaways.

Any thoughts on the best way to bind this?

Problem is partly that I haven't seen anything similar in the flesh.

Guess I need to try to cut the channel/rebate so it stays true to the ribs and use tall binding that can then be scraped down to match the angle of the back?

Or would I be better trying to stay true to the back, so purfling stays the right width when scraped, and either using extra thick binding or a filler wedge, since this way the bottom of the binding channel will be deeper than the thickness or purfling/binding?

(With the ridge, the angle is going to be 75 or so degrees blunt in places)

The associated top binding doesn't have me as concerned, as at its most acute point it'll be met by the fingerboard.

(O, these are to be wood bound - I cheated on my first, as it had normal cutaways and no back binding)

Thanks
Steve

Steve, a drawing or picture would really help here. I know I for one am having trouble visualising what you are talking about.

_________________
Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Thanks Joe
I'll post a pic to clarify this evening - only have MS Paint and a scratchy mouse here.
Cheers
Steve

Steve,
It sounds like you will want to bind in stages. Especially at the cutaway.
Without pics my best guess would be to bind the cutaway first, then the rest of the back.
Possably using a binding material that is visually forgiving. maybe something dark?

Wade

_________________
Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

Ah, so rebate to suit the purfling first (true to the back), perhaps installing sacrificial 'binding' too, then redo the rebate (true to the rib) to suit the binding.

Really bad pics attached - I got waylaid last night, so ended up using paint anyway.
I've tried to show end on, the diference between top and back outlines and the binding channel.




Cheers
Steve