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Old 05-05-2013, 08:05 AM
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Default Martin binding

First off, I know aesthetics are secondary to tone, but are any of you upset that white boltaron is used on the standard series? I love Martin, so I'm not bashing. The extreme example would be the d-45. It is $10,599.00 msrp. How sad would it be to spend that money and have that binding. I know the older guitars have ivoroid, which I think looks better.
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Old 05-05-2013, 08:14 AM
Zigeuner Zigeuner is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRodgers View Post
First off, I know aesthetics are secondary to tone, but are any of you upset that white boltaron is used on the standard series? I love Martin, so I'm not bashing. The extreme example would be the d-45. It is $10,599.00 msrp. How sad would it be to spend that money and have that binding. I know the older guitars have ivoroid, which I think looks better.
I'm not certain whether Ivoroid was ever made from vinyl but I do know that the original version was made from nitrocellulose base. Although I agree that it is prettier than the Boltaron, if it is nitrocellulose, it has a number of negative issues associated with it.

It is highly flammable. This is not much of a problem for a guitar that is kept in its case or away from flame, although I've seen cigarette burns on Martin guitars. There is however a big problem storing it in a factory and working with it. It's dangerous when storef in large quantities in one place.

It also has a time limit on it. After 50 years or so, it will deteriorate. Even before that, it can crack and need replacement due to the solvents with which it's made drying out.

None of this applies if they are using Ivoroid that is made from Vinyl. I really don't know so I can only guess. Vinyl makes a perfectly good substitute for nitrocellulose, however.

So, there are probably more reasons why Martin and other companies have changed. In any case, I won't be paying $10,000 for any guitar. It's not in the cards for me. I've heard some great music played on D-18's and D-28's so I don't see any need for added bling with more glue and extra binding.
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Old 05-05-2013, 08:15 AM
HHP HHP is offline
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I don't think I've ever cared about the binding on standard series. I might care less about the backstripe but its close. Minor cosmetic details just don't mean much to me.
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Old 05-05-2013, 08:20 AM
rmyAddison rmyAddison is offline
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I do not like the stark white Boltaron binding on the standards, much prefer the Iveroid that comes on the Marquis/VIntage/GE models etc.

Personally I prefer Tortoise binding over Iveroid and wood over all of them. But none of these binding are deal breakers to me if it's a great sounding guitar.
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Old 05-05-2013, 09:24 AM
J Patrick J Patrick is offline
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I'm not certain whether Ivoroid was ever made from vinyl but I do know that the original version was made from nitrocellulose base.
...its still a celluloid plastic...
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Old 05-05-2013, 09:30 AM
Landru Landru is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DRodgers View Post
First off, I know aesthetics are secondary to tone, but are any of you upset that white boltaron is used on the standard series? I love Martin, so I'm not bashing. The extreme example would be the d-45. It is $10,599.00 msrp. How sad would it be to spend that money and have that binding. I know the older guitars have ivoroid, which I think looks better.
It's really country western-like, this white binding. I find it rather ugly, but what can one do? Both boltaron and ivoroid are second-rate bindings to me, but beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder on this one. I listen to the tone of my Martin and find peace every time..
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Old 05-05-2013, 09:31 AM
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Originally Posted by rmyAddison View Post
Personally I prefer Tortoise binding over Iveroid and wood over all of them. But none of these binding are deal breakers to me if it's a great sounding guitar.
I should've just let this quote be my response. As usual, Rich . . . .
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Old 05-05-2013, 10:05 AM
000-18GE 000-18GE is offline
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Boltaron isn't a deal breaker for me but it comes awfully close and I'm really not one to be driven much by cosmetics.
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Old 05-05-2013, 10:10 AM
muzz76 muzz76 is offline
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Ivoroid I don't love but I don't mind it either.

Bolatron pushes my tolerance a bit but it still wouldn't be a deal breaker on a great guitar.
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Old 05-05-2013, 10:44 AM
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I'm with Rich and Paul. I grimaced when Martin swapped out the Tortoise bindings and guards in the 60s. Not a deal breaker, but not aesthetically pleasing to the eyes of this beholder.
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Old 05-05-2013, 03:46 PM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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Originally Posted by DRodgers View Post
First off, I know aesthetics are secondary to tone, but are any of you upset that white boltaron is used on the standard series?
The White boltaron is the thing I like the least about my D-35.
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Old 05-05-2013, 04:44 PM
Judson Judson is offline
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The lowest priced Standard now has tortoise binding instead of boltaron or ivoroid ... D-18 ... another reason to love it!
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Old 05-05-2013, 05:25 PM
Landru Landru is offline
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While we're on the subject, how much $ to change binding? Big deal or easy street?
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Old 05-05-2013, 05:40 PM
Fngrstyl Fngrstyl is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Landru View Post
While we're on the subject, how much $ to change binding? Big deal or easy street?
If you build a guitar through there website it looks like from Ivroid to Rosewood, maple or walnut is about 150.00 more

And this is what my custom would cost $8,100.00 That was fun!

http://www.martinguitar.com/custom-s...ur-custom.html
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Old 05-05-2013, 05:40 PM
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Hi Paul,
Big deal. Really big deal. Binding is put in prior to finish. The labor involved in taking the binding out cleanly and then replacing and sanding flush probably isn't even the worst part of the job. I think that the guitar gets refinished then.
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