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Hello,

This is my first guitar. in the "chapter" of binding the guitar, to simplify I only bought the bindings; I will not use purflings. So I have ordered some olive wood bindings. now I find them in contrast to the rosewood sides a bit light coloured.
So I have some doubts and I would like to hear some advice.
I post 2 pictures:

I like the contrast. Somebody will probably tell us why it is unacceptable though. I would like to build, maybe a maple with walnut binding, or walnut with maple binding.

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Colors will change with a finish , and I do like the look. It isn't an overwhelming contrast.

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John Hall
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Won't tell you it's unacceptable but will tell you I would prefer a bwb purfling to add a bit of glitz. Again that is just what I would prefer. Everyone should build their guitars as they prefer.

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I like light bindings on a dark wood like that. Looks great to me. Purfling isn't necessary--old Gibsons didn't have it.

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Antonio, you have obviously had some doubts about whether you really like the look of this combination, so I strongly recommend you glue up a couple of scraps of your side wood, binding wood, and top wood.
Then apply your finish to the test pieces and see how they look under the finish. This will also give you a chance to experiment with stains or dyes to slightly or greatly alter the color tones and contrast (if either appeals to you). The point is that you can preview everything in that manner before committing to the actual instrument.

I've seen some pretty EIR guitars with Curly Maple bindings. Then there is this, too.

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Light wood bindings look good on rosewood guitars, I prefer curly maple. As said above a BWB purfling sets it up nice and adds to the look.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
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I think it would look good. I'd also vote for perf lines in there.

Absolutely! My favorite:

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Honestly, both look good IMO. So really you can choose what you like, there is no wrong answer.

You can do light without purfling lines (curly maple on EIR here)



Or you can do matching side wood (you'll want a contrasting side purfling with this though)
Here is EIR on EIR with a maple side purfling

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Nicely done Rod. I like that.

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Aoibeann

Thank you everybody for your answers.
Wow, beautiful pictures. Some of the bindings are even lighter then mine. Anyway , I will do some tests on scraps of matching wood. Thank you for that particular suggestion.

Just one more question. I will pore-fill the sides and back with the egg white and sanding technique. Should I do it before or after gluing the bindings?

I would say pore fill after you have the body all finished. You will have a bit of scraping and or sanding to do to bring the bindings and side wood to the same level. If you've pore filled before installing the bindings, you will inadvertently remove some of the fill and have to redo it.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I think it you look at most factory guitars that the binding is white or light or ivoriod.