Official Luthiers Forum!

I am taking a survey. The binding on this 1967 Gibson LGO is deteriorating. What would you do? I need to give some advice to the owner. Thanks for your wise thoughts and any how-to tips offered!!!

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Steve, no expert here but the first thing that came to mind as i looked at your pics was to clean the bindings with naphta, i'll wait for the experts to give you a better answer though.

Are the bindings still glued firmly to the guitar?

Serge, the binding is tight to the channel but it looks like it is crystallizing in places and flaking off or coming off in little salt-sized pieces. Wierd, like the plasticizer is leaving and the plastic is reverting back to granules...

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

As a player first, luthier wanna-be second, I would suggest to keep it as original as possible. The "mojo" that comes with the old parts of a guitar is worth the conservation.

If you brush on "laquer melt" Butyl Cellusole (spelling) it will remelt the plastic and the cracks will disappear. I did it on a Hummingbird recently and it worked great. I then used super glue to fill in the voids. Use massive ventilation and don't spill it on the laquer!
Hope this helps,
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

What Evan said Steve, it sounds great to my ears and besides, he's an expert!

Evan, I like that idea very much. Perfect solution!!!

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Thanks Evan, I will file this away for future reference.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Remember this works on the type of binding in the photos, where it begins to crystallize, I have not tried it on a white binding and would be hesitant to try it on another form of plastic. Also if you can't seem to penetrate the whitish flaky part with the butyl cellusolve than poke a tiny hole in it with a pin or xacto blade and it will flow through. It looks pretty cool as it reattaches the flaky bits. PROPER VENTILATION!!!! I had all my windows open but still felt myself getting stupider as I worked with it. Now I am an idiot
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

Wow that is some awesome tortoise shell. Yep I would doe every thing to save it.

seconding evans caution regarding the use of the butylcellusolve. it is a nasty solvent. wear your appropriate respirator. when i use it i like to be in the spray booth with the exhaust fan running. even a very small amout can get at you.

[QUOTE=Evan Gluck] I had all my windows open but still felt myself getting stupider as I worked with it. Now I am an idiot
Evan[/QUOTE]

Evan, that's hilarious. By the way, was this before I met you at the convention?   

Just wondering...

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com