Brazilian / German Spruce / Snakewood - Bindings? Input appreciated!

[AndyC]

Hi

I am embarking on my first commissioned build with a fabulous luthier local to me here in the UK, and I would really appreciate your thoughts or comments on the finishing touches to specify on my build.

I've acquired some fabulous woods for the project - a highly figured set of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides, a stunning Bearclawed German Spruce Master Grade top and the most beautiful Snakewood for the fingerboard, bridge and headstock.

My dilemma is what bindings to specify. I'm thinking of Ebony (or African Blackwood?) with BWB purfling, but I'm not yet 100% committed to this approach. Originally, I had thought of Paua for the purfling, and some sort of Paua / Snakewood design for the rosette, but I'm not sure if this is going to turn out too "blingy". With the beautiful woods that are being used, the wow factor will come from the woods, so maybe I should be a little more conservative with the bindings / purfling?

I do have a full set of bindings in Snakewood that I purchased at the same time as the fingerboard / bridge / headstock woods, which could possibly be an option. However, I really want some defined contrast on the fingerboard between the board and the bindings, and I'm not sure if snakewood bindings on a snakewood board would show up that clearly.

The other decision I am pondering is inlays - do I go for some nice Paua (or whatever) on the fingerboard, or do I let the beauty of the wood speak for itself and just put some discrete markers on the top edge binding?

Backstrip? Purfling on the back and sides? Decisions decisions.....

I guess half of the fun in commissioning a custom build like this is deciding the overall look of the guitar, but I'm really struggling to reach a decision on these final specifications.

Any input / advice / comment would be really welcomed.

Thanks, Andy

[ericcsong]

I think ebony would be a great choice! since there is a lot going on with snakewood (beautiful!) maybe go for a simple wood that is very plain jane. This will be the contrast I think you have in mind. a sharp contrast from dark plain wood to very pretty snakewood! I think this is important especially on a bound neck to show that immediate contrast. here is an example of snakewood fingerboard with nice dark binding: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...ight=don+sharp

When I commissioned my Kostal, Jason recommended a dark binding because it frames the wood. I like that imagery of the dark plain binding framing up the pretty wood!

[Tim McKnight]

^ What Eric said. We usually coach our customers to select a plain binding [IF] the B&S woods are highly figured instead of the bindings competing with them. Opposite is true if someone wants a bit of understated bling on rather plain B&S we might add some figured bindings as a compliment. I am not sure the Snakewood to be used on the bridge/fingerboard/peghead is a good idea without seeing the figure in the BRW. It may be a bit "busy" and unbalanced? Please post some pictures of the B&S.

[AndyC]

Hi Eric / Tim

Thanks for the replies - as requested, here's a picture of the wood for the B & S:

[jperryrocks]

Snakewood would be a bit too busy if it was my guitar. That's a nice set with lots of color and figure going on.

I would tone down the bindings to complement the Brazilian.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by jperryrocks

Snakewood would be a bit too busy if it was my guitar. That's a nice set with lots of color and figure going on.

I would tone down the bindings to complement the Brazilian.

You mean Snakewood bindings would be too busy?

[DamianL]

Personally (and custom guitar design is of course very much personal!), I always think that a little snakewood goes a loooooooooong way...

I can't picture it with that Brazilian at all...but that may just be my lack of imagination!


Damian

[Kevin A]

I love the look of snakewood as an accent (binding, inlay, etc). Some people may find it 'too busy' but I find it provides an additional textural element to an already stunning guitar.

Here's a sample of figured brazilian RW, spruce top with snakewood binding...






SW carried on to the fretboard binding & headstock binding, HS veneer & tuning buttons:

[Fliss]

As has been said above, it's a personal decision, but if it was me, I'd keep the binding simple with that back and sides.

As a fellow Cheshire resident. I'm busting with curiosity to know who your luthier is - please do tell!

Fliss

[UKPhil]

Originally Posted by Fliss

As a fellow Cheshire resident. I'm busting with curiosity to know who your luthier is - please do tell!

Fliss

Fliss beat me to it!!

[Bruce Sexauer]

Snakewood is more of a textural statement that a bling statement IMO. That is because it's stripe is from just two colors, and not from flame or grain distortion. I use it on a large percentage of my binding work and find it conservative and that it complements nearly wood choice.

Ebony is more conservative yet, and I used to favor it more than I do currently. I currently view it as an overly strong statement, and prefer my black lines to be more delicate.

Two more than have my current favor are Pernambuco and Imbuya.

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by Fliss

As a fellow Cheshire resident. I'm busting with curiosity to know who your luthier is - please do tell!

Fliss

It's Ged Green - http://www.gedgreen.co.uk

[DamianL]

How interesting...

It would be great to see the outcome as I've not seen any of his work before...

[Mark Hatcher]

I'd go with Ebony. It would bring out the black lines in the BRW. I do have an adversion to fiquered or textured bindings. IMO the lines of the overall guitar design are usually beautful. Again, IMO any textured binding only obscures the basic shape of a guitar. I think Snakewood looks good from 10" but any further away and it starts to "camouflage" the edges. Opinions differ, but you asked

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by DamianL

How interesting...

It would be great to see the outcome as I've not seen any of his work before...

I'll post some pics when it's finished, but that won't be for a while....!

(If I get any work in progress pics, I'll post those too)