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Selecting just the right bindings always seems to be a difficult decision for me and I'd like your help.

I'm doing a 000-12 Fret with Adi Spruce and Zootman's hyper-figured quilted sapele. I think I want something that is of a more solid color that contrasts from the color of the sapele.

I'd love to hear of what others have selected or would select. Some of the considerations I have thought about are:
...Ebony
...EIR
...BRW
...Walnut
...Curly maple
...Tortoise

Also...I'd be interested in looking at finished sapele pics and the bindings you selected.

Thanks in advance for your help.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

brw

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

What about bloodwood, or maybe Walnut, that might look nice. Bob C has some cool looking Brazilian Tulipwood bindings on his site

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I second the vote for bloodwood. I just finished a ribbon sapele cutaway with a Euro spruce top & it looks great!
The stuff I used had lots of runout. It was a bear to bend but was well worth the frustrations.

brw

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Madrose.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I'm working on the exact same specs as yours with EIR bindings and a single maple purfling. I think it looks lovely.

BRW or EIRW...

BRW or how about Koa?

Nice pictures Birthday Boy (Hesh)!

Zircote gets my vote. Check with Bob C.

JJ, when I built with that wood the finish darkened it quite a bit so try a little finish on a scrap to see how much it will darken. I have seen dark like mine and very light colored on others from the same wood. This wood is so spectacular that I like a simple trim design with it although I reallY didn't in the case of my guitar, I used snakewood and I probably wouldn't next time. Anyway, I'd go with BRW or Madrose if you want a dark trim and if the wood is really dark under finish and you like a lighter colored trim without going as light as maple you might think of honduram rosewood.
Have fun with it!!!

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Oh, by the way the other binding that shouldn't be ignored when using mahogany is tortoise. Mahogany and tortoise is a classic.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thanks, guys.

John... I think I'll take your advice and finish out some scrap to confirm the look under finish and then do the same with binding scraps.

Hesh...My first inclination was to go with BRW and your example is fine indeed. I used BRW on the Bubinga but I was disappointed in the lack of contrast it showed. This, of course is different wood and I'm more sensitive now to what I want. BTW...Happy Birthday!!!

Rod & Daniel...I've used Bloodwood bindings in the past with walnut and will use that in my trials.

Paul...I can imagine that EIR will look great...I have a ton of bindings that I sliced from some scrap sides I bought 2 years ago. How about some pics of your current build?

Anthony...I have a feeling that Koa might compete too much with the sapele figure. I think I want a solid look but could be wrong.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

[QUOTE=Colin S] Oh, by the way the other binding that shouldn't be ignored when using mahogany is tortoise. Mahogany and tortoise is a classic.

Colin[/QUOTE]

That's what Hesh's guitar reminds me of

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Aoibeann

JJ, I'll pick the conservative route and go with ebony. With a beautiful figured wood you don't need the bindings to compete/distract...

True, ebony usually ends up looking like plastic under finish...

My other choices would be EIR or Brazillion...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

JJ I hear you on your Koa response. If it's a nice contrast you want -- I find that the top and rib purfling has a significant effect.   Are you thinking solid binding or going with a multi line purfling?