Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a couple of ideas - but I'd like to hear what you would do.

I have a typical-geometry OM on the bench - no cutaway, bolt-on LMI mahogany neck. The box is a very pretty claro walnut B&S, and will have a WRC top. It is going to have a paua abalone rosette ring, plus paua purfling (just on the top and not around the fretboard like a -45). I may try either a red or green fibre strip as part of the purfling and rosette scheme too, along with the usual black and white. The fretboard and headstock overlay are ebony.

Question: What would you use for bindings?

I may make my first attempt at a bound fretboard on this one too. I'm inclined to just use ebony strips, but alternate suggestions would be great here too.

Thanks,

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Good idea on the colored purfs with the abalone.

Also good questions on choosing bindings. The Claro Walnut, I imagine is more figured than not. In that case, I like to choose a binding that will not compete for "Zoot Billing", but instead compliment the more zooty back and side wood. Something with a relatively homogeneous color like ebony, BRW, IRW always look elegant. You could even use curly maple bindings depending on the color of the walnut. If you really want to make a bold statement, bloodwood also looks great as a binding. The choices are only limited by your imagination.

On the FB binding, consider keeping the binding theme consistent. Also, if you bind the FB you also should consider binding the peghead similarly.

These are just my opinions...worth no more than 2 cents! Artistic license dictates that you can choose anything that strikes your fancy.

Good luck and have fun!

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

JJ said it well. I might lean toward curly maple myself, but ultimately it's going to be your choice.
What I do is take a variety of woods and hold them up to the other woods to see which combinations I like, and go from there.
The walnut will darken a bit under finish, so you'll want to decide if you want a med/dark combination, or a medium/contrasting light combination.

You know Jim, some pictures might help us to help you choose...
hint...

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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."

I would go with something like brazilian or somthing with redish hues to capture the WRC tops and also teh red/green fiber--just my opinion.

I agree with ebony,brw,irw, or bloodwood. I think the ebony would work best with the colors there, but the other woods would be more subtle, which I am starting to like more. I'm making a Wess style now, with a spruce top, and a b.e.maple rosette, which you can barely see! Alan.

I have built several walnut guitars, and brw always looks fantastic.

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

I think Brazilian would look good with anything, but I remain a sucker for curly maple on a walnut box.
The bling of one seems to fit the bling of the other so nicely.

Here's a shot of one my bro and I did last year using curly Claro, with curly maple bindings.



Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve - I think you convinced me.

Any closeups of the purfling and rosette? I'm planning on a single shell ring, but your double ring around the solid
rosette is really nice looking.

JIm

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Pernambucco(sp?) would look great. Should be considered more often but harder to find esp. right dimensions to work.

Thanks, Jim.
Here's a pic for you that shows a closer view of the rosette. Visible through the soundhole is the workboard...in case you wonder.



Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

My vote goes for Brazilian.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com