W-B-W rosette

[RHayes]

What are some likely ways to create the W-B-W rosette typical of the Gibson L-00's of the 30's?

[JonWint]

Do you mean besides buying the wood or plastic binding of the appropriate width?

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tool...ding-and-trim/

[Dyson Guitars]

I buy w/b/w purfling strips and use those for the lines in my rosettes. You can get varying widths in wood or fiber or plastic.

[Rudy4]

I usually have plenty of scrap laying around to use for thin strips to make wood binding and sound hole rosettes with. Thinning the scrap strips to the appropriate thickness to form into a rosette is one of the things I use my vertical oscillating drum sander for.



I prefer rosettes made with a herringbone center; that's a good way to use up short lengths of herringbone left over from center seams used to join backs.

[RHayes]

We’re the original L 00’s a three piece build up in place or a pre made item?

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by RHayes

We’re the original L 00’s a three piece build up in place or a pre made item?

Most of those simple rosettes I've seen done were simply three strips of material inserted into a channel with glue. It takes about a minute to do the whole thing, with the ends fitting neatly under where the fret board will cover them.

[RHayes]

Thanks Rudy, had a guitar like that in my youth that is long gone.

[Bill Kraus]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Most of those simple rosettes I've seen done were simply three strips of material inserted into a channel with glue. It takes about a minute to do the whole thing, with the ends fitting neatly under where the fret board will cover them.

Remember that many Gibson style guitars have the whole rosette fully exposed, as opposed to Martin style guitars, where the neck end of the rosette is covered by the end of the fret board. So if you are making a Gibson style, make sure you make the rosette seam meet at the center seam of the top, and that it is a nice fit with no gaps.

[printer2]

And the joint cut at an angle rather than a butt joint hides it better.

[John Arnold]

Gibson would use a butt joint, often at the 3 o'clock location.
I am guessing that their rosettes were laminated before installation, because that simplifies the process, and celluloid is very pliable.