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I am building a Couple of guitars at the moment as demonstrators. I decided to do one in a nice piece of Cocobolo I have (please see pictures if I manage to attach them, but I just can't think of what to use for binding it, any suggestions would be very much appreciatted.



Brock Poling38565.7460069444

A matching piece of Cocobolo?

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

Ebony or Indian Rosewood would give you lots of contrast, but then again so would flamed maple. I think even flamed koa would look good.
Tracy

Agreed with Brock. Granted I'm the king of simplicity but to my eye, nothing looks better than a guitar bound in the same wood with just a .020 line of contrasting purfling. It makes it look like the purfling was inlayed.
Other than that, I'd stay away from anything super Zoot. It will take away from that nice piece of Coco you have. Maybe ebony would be a good choice.

You can go two ways here, either try to keep up with the Coco by using a nice flamed Koa or maple, or you can complement the back and side woods by using an Ebony or as Brock said, a nice Coco binding, Indian or a dark Braz would be nice too.

I think the binding choice is very important and should be considered as part of the whole design process, and not just for what it is, in other words, try to plan your entire guitar, and let that kind of lead you toward the binding choice.

Just my thoughts -
Ignore me if you like

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I would go with the Flamed Koa. It realy sets off the beautiful Coco

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Wow...that first set is really pretty! You selling?

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Thanks Guys,

Really appreciate the input, Most guitars I do I can picture in my head the binding and the whole look, but this one I am struggling to get a feel for. Like the idea of binding in Cocobolo would be a nice clean look, also like the idea of going for a strong contrast like the flamed maple. Decisions, decisions

Lance - I would never ignore you, I agree with your approach and you only have to look at one of your guitars to know it works.

Then again Koa would be good too or though it is not too easy to get over here, as you guys keep it all

Don

I'm not selling, but the guy who I get it from has lots of beautiful sets, some from that same board, only trouble is we are both based in the UK, so not sure how the frieght etc would add to the cost, can give you his email if you want it Don?

Russell I'll add my vote for coco bindings with a maple perling line for a real elegant look. If you like mutiple lines then I think a triple line of maple/brown/maple would be nice.

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Bob Thanks very Much.

Russell

Russell, if you need Koa bindings contact Bob Gleason at Pegasus guitars, I believe hes closer to you then me He's located in Hawaii. Here is his URL.

PEGASUS LINK

Bob is a very nice guy to deal with as well, hmm wonder if there's something in that name?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I vote for the flamed maple. It would give you a very nice contrast while not being gaudy. I am finishing a resonator now using some of Bob`s sycamore(no laughs out there! great wood!) and I used blood wood for the bindings. Very pleasing combination to my old eyes.

Howdy Dale, welcome to the OLF. I won't laugh at the sycamore. I'm sitting on 2 or more sets that I got from BobC myself. Heck, I think 2/3's of my lifetime supply came from Bob, yet he continues to find new ways to draw me in. Show us some pictures of that resonator!

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Russel, is that some of Andy's Coco?

Colin

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

that is some wicked sweet coco.

If you want the darker look I'd go with Coco and a thin maple line, or
maybe ebony and std. side purflings.

If you want a lighter look Maple is a classic choice. I've never been find of
Koa and cocobolo together..gold and orange just don't do it visually for
me.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Thanks Guys

Colin yes the Cocobolo did come from Andy, he has some really stunning sets, ask him for some pictures.

Lance

Thanks for the Link, I don't think I will use the Koa on this one, but I want to get some in as I have an order for a Madagascan 000 bound in Koa.

Russell--

Here's another couple of ideas for your grist mill:
1) Yellowheart (Pau Amarillo)- That would bring out that nice color in the sapwood, and compliment the golds in the Coco.

2) Boxwood - Simple, elegant look that would showcase the nice figure in that set.

That really is some pretty wood!

Steve

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Thanks Steve

I was a bit spoilt for choice, the guy who supplies it had loads of stunning sets, but I kind of fell in love with the SAP wood.

Russell

Russel: what 'Andy' would this be? I'm guessing a UK supplier, which is always attractive...I think Colin's mentioned him before, but my bookmarks, they're in shambles.

Mattia I sent you a PM

Russell

I build almost exclusively Classicals so conservative is the order of the day so what I do to keep things simple but add only a little bit of bling is to go with Ebony binding but with a single (.020) line of curly maple which I then repeat as a center line for the back and under the top veneer for the headstock.

Just that little bit of curly maple will catch the light but does not distract or take away from the beauty of the Coco...

I didn't see any shots of the sides, but what I usually do is just use the offcuts from the sides for my binding. That way, you've got a guaranteed match.

For contrast, I've used curly maple and bloodwood. Of the two, I think bloodwood provides more of a pleasing contrast, but it isn't as easy to work as curly maple.

Best,

Michael

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