Well, like the little drummer boy that had no portraits of dead statesmen to offer, or gold teeth to pull, I find myself wanting to do something for John and the Mayes family, and I'm trying to get creative...
One thing that I have, that is rare and probably irreplaceable to me, is some binding that I made. I never intended to sell any, as the wood cost so much, and it was the best example of consistent figure, uniform color, and straight grain (low runout - ideal for binding) that I had ever seen in this species. And I have been looking for years. This was to be eeeeked out over a few instruments, but I want to offer a set to help John out.
I want to offer a set of this special binding material, 5 pieces, to the highest bidder, including free shipping anywhere on planet Earth.
Since I was never intending to sell any, the only photos I have are of me working with a set. That's the photos you'll see here.
The material is fiddleback Katalox (Swartzia cubensis) from southern Mexico. It has consistent fiddleback curl from end to end, and has consistent color from end to end. (You'll see pieces of raw wood with this fiddleback, but you'll have a very hard time EVER finding a stick without runout and this consistent. This is really rare and special stuff - much more rare than fine Snakewood.
It has an attached double (veneer) purfling of Holly and dyed black Maple. The purfling veneers were glued on with Titebond III, to withstand the heat and moisture of bending, and you'll see in the photos it bends nicely (behaves) and the veneer/purfs stay intact. Approximate dimensions: .080" thick x .25" tall x 33" long.
Here are photos of me working a set. (Note that I cracked the Cocobolo sides, but the fiddleback Katalox bent perfectly.)
Here, I'm preparing to bend by taping 4 pieces of binding, veneer-to-veneer, to the Cocobolo sides.
Fiddleback Katalox bent like a dream. Quartersawn Cocobolo bent like a nightmare.)
Adding an end graft of Amboyna burl, flanked with the fiddleback Katalox.
And that guitar was back-burnered, so I don't have finished pics to show yet. Note that, like all deep dark fiddleback woods, the overall effect will be somewhat muted under a finish, but will be alive and move when light plays on the guitar or when the guitar moves. So, if you think it is too much "bling", well, it won't be.
So dig deep friends, pay a lot more than you would ever dream of paying for rare exotic binding. This really isn't about buying binding - it's about helping out John Mayes and his family, and you get a bonus of a set of binding. Be generous. I'll try to get John's PayPal address so you can directly send the cash to him. Since it's currently Christmas Eve, let's let this ride until New Year's Day, Jan 1st at 12:00 noon CST (GMT -6.)
Peace to you all. Pa rum pa pum pum.
Dennis
$40.00 
Intercom "
ackkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk fourty dollars SHEESH Does own CPR to get heart rate down 
![[uncle]](./images/smilies/surrenderflagqv6.gif "Uncle")
have fun gentlemen wifes already chewing my but for spending to much ![[headinwall]](./images/smilies/headbangwalluf8.gif "Mad")