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I occassionally need Tortise bindings on some of my electrics. I recently have got some very nice stock from Bill James @ Axiom, but I would also like some lighter colored stock as well.

I contacted John Greven today to see if he had any interest in producing bindings in his special Tor-Tis material. If you have never had any of this material it is FANTASTIC. I generally don't bind my acoustics in plastic, but this is very high end material.

The answer he gave me back was a "maybe". It sounds like if the buy is big enough it would off set the PITA it is to make these up.

I don't know if I alone need enough to get his attention, but perhaps if we structure a group buy it might work.

I don't know the cost at this point, or the exact specifications. Those are details that need to be worked out. But here is what I ** DO ** know. I like the color of the Medium Tortis material and the length would be 36"

If you have an interest (this isn't in any way a binding committment... ) but just a level of interest query at the moment.

This may work out, it may go no where.... but I am curious to see what others think.

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

YES!!!!
Im pretty sure Matt Gage would be interested too..

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I'm definitely interested... Any estimate on the cost?

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

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Would it not be too brittle for binding? It is very easy to break the material when cutting a pick guard out of a sheet of it so my concern is that the thin binding strips would break easily. I have found that warming it before cutting helps BTW so this could solve it for binding too, but it would still be more cumbersome to install than other plastics. And I agree that it would look great!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

yep i would be interested in like probably 50-60 pieces

I'm interested.

[QUOTE=Mark Tripp] I'm definitely interested... Any estimate on the cost?

-Mark

[/QUOTE]

At this point, no, I don't have any estimate on cost. I am waiting to hear back from John to get an idea of how big an order it will take for him to want to tackle making these up, and hopefully that will include other spec info, dimensions and cost.

I will post that info as soon as I have it.

:-)

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

would be in if not just limited to medium or other shade

I'd be very interested but I like the Dark Tortis better.
Also, I'd prefer a length that will go all the way around the body in one piece.
I'd go for a dozen pieces of the Dark, but I'd probably pass on the medium.

Jim Kirby

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Ok. I know it will be for 36" pieces, not the longer ones. He already told me that.

I guess if there is enough interest we could ask for 2 batches to be made up one medium and one dark, but I didn't want this to bee too complex right out of the shoot. Plus, the dark seems pretty close to the other tortise type material you can buy from Axiom and others (which is also nice, just different.)

I am game if there is enough interest. You tell me.

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

Hi Brock,
I'm interested in a sizeable amount.
Count me in.

Thanks,
walter

I'd like some!

I'm IN. Do we know how much they would cost each?
I would like enough for a few guitars probably.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

The Tor-Tis that John makes is rather fragile at least the pickguards I have used were and I'm not really sure how it will do as a binding. I'm not saying it can't be done but you must be very carefull handling and shaping the pickguard material until it is attached.

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

I've been bugging John to make some for a while. Sounds like it may happen
soon.
It bends easily with a little heat.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Heat? You would have to heat it to bend it? That's a concern...how much heat? Hair dryer? Heat shrink gun? Torch? Just how much heat are we talkin' about?

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

About the same you would use on wood binding. I would suggest using your
bending iron on a low setting at first until you get the hang of it.

-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I am interested! the medium is OK with me if that is all he will do.

I would like more detail when available about bending, handling and sizes available

If it was soon (within the next couple of weeks) I'd be in for 4-6 pieces.

[QUOTE=Don Williams] Heat? You would have to heat it to bend it? That's a
concern...how much heat? Hair dryer? Heat shrink gun? Torch? Just how
much heat are we talkin' about?[/QUOTE]

Hot tap water does it, it shapes easily and cools fast. I wouldn't try a blanket
or a heat shrink gun. Might get some interesting effects with the torch
though…

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

[QUOTE=Don Williams] I'm IN. Do we know how much they would cost each?
I would like enough for a few guitars probably.[/QUOTE]

Anyone besides me notice Dons "semi retired guitarmaker" quote missing?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

I could use 16 pieces, give or take.

Thanks Lance I am definitly intrested. In fact i was just thinking of calling to see if john offerd bindings.

Dark for me.... Thanks Broc.