I was wondering if there are Starts made with binding on the body? I mean a traditional Strat shape, not a flat top like this one:

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Just how do you install binding on a body whose edges are variably-radiused......?

Arjay

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A hard binding requires a square edge, as far as I know. BUT, there are a lot of Strat Bodies that used a masked binding and look really nice. Check out some of the bodies at Warmoth. They used this a lot when they have a highly flamed maple top with an ash or alder back.

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i dont know xefri, ceri managed to do do a subtle binding on
"touching up niki's body".

by the way that strat is totally awesome.

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Definitely few and far between to find a strat with body binding. I like the one you posted a picture of, but I know a lot of people like having the comfortable body contours. And yeah, masked binding would probably be something you'd most likely see on a guitar with multiple radii on the body.

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Sir Ceri starts the binding at around page 42

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=30747&start=615

I still can't believe how good that guitar looks.

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No no and no

Here is the binding that Mr C. did:



This is called a "masked" binding. It really isn't binding at all but has the appearance of a binding. It is done by using "masking" tape around the edges, (And Mr. C. did a great job of it as well!) like a lot of the bodies you see on Warmoths's website.



But a real binding requires putting on a real plastic type strip around the edge of the guitar:




and when this binding is put on, like in the case of an acoustic guitar, it has to be bound down till the glue dries. I saw them do that on the Les Paul's at Gibson.



So it is bit hard to put a "real" binding on a contour edge, such as a Strat has, BUT the "masked" binding gives a guitar that cool bound look.....I almost bought a masked bound body for the custom build I am doing right now but it drove the price up another $75 and I had a lot into the body I bought so I decided not to get it.

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Slightly off subject, but could anyone tell me what kind of guitar this is? I can see it says Fender on the head, but i'd like to know what kind model this guitar is, or what series its from, i can't find any other photos or info anywhere.

Yes, do check out this:

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Body/Stra ... nding.aspx

I think it means their "drop top binding" is real, not just masked.

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My other guitar is a Strat.

Yeppers, the "drop top binding" is the real thing! I had not seen these before on their site. I wonder if it is something new they just started offering? As Warmoth says, "Because forearm contours are a standard feature on Strat bodies, the style of binding work they require is referred to as "Drop Top" Binding. This is one of the more difficult binding styles to master and that’s why you seldom see it offered by other body builders. Warmoth has perfected the process and proudly offers this outstanding option on Strat and Jbass bodies."

And then the more common "masked binding" they offer is mentioned on that same link, "Masked, mock or natural binding is a paint process which offers the appearance of binding but is really only the underlying wood left unpainted or unstained. The process is to mask off the edges of the top wood, then spray or dye the body. The mask is then removed before shooting the clear coats. A dark color for the body gives the most contrast."

I talked with management at Warmoth to see if they would consider making the Ultra Pickguard routes. I could sell a lot of them as well as the people who ask me for them weekly. I guess the idea fell on deaf ears!

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Well, I found a couple of pics with bound Strat-style guitars called "The Well", hand-built by Rainer Koschnick. Please note, these German-made beauties are not mine.











The MIJ Aerodyne is bound even though it's a different shape on the top than a standard Strat.

Not sure if Paul Reed Smith actually invented "faux binding" but he certainly was amongst the first to pioneer and make it popular. Many others have done it since - I seem to be getting a name-check, above!

Faux binding works nicely on PRS and similar guitars because of the fairly sharp edge to their fronts. Much more tricky on Strats. I found that my pin-striping tape just wouldn't stay stuck down round the relatively complex curvy corners of a Strat:



So what I had to do instead was to use artist's latex masking fluid, painted on very carefully by hand:









That's fair enough if you are simply masking for a stain, but for the complex multi-stage finish process I used on that guitar I found myself painting that latex fluid on and pulling it off again three times in total - which was very tedious work:









The time consuming tiresomeness of that task no doubt explains why we see very few full contour body Strats with faux binding - the ones that have it are usually flat tops.

There are a few folks out there doing not only faux binding but the full inlay cream+abalone+cream bit on proper S-type contoured bodies. I've seen one or two from Thorn Custom Guitars, who are amongst the best in the inlay business. Frustratingly, I'm not finding a bound body S-type on their site at the moment - but they exist!

http://www.thornguitars.com/

This photo of a different type of guitar indicates how they go about it:



As you see, where front wood meets body timber they have created a channel and inlayed the edging into it. Which is essentially a technique from violin purfling - very skillful. And that is not even their finest work!

As it happens, I do have a couple of other tricks up my sleeve, far as coach-lining round the edges of proper contoured Strat bodies is concerned. Hopefully I might show something of that in the next couple of months or three. Stay tooned...

Cheers - C

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Wow Mr. C.! Super nice! The inlay binding is incredible! And then the memories of your finish work was super too!

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