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I need some suggestions for binding that would have some great color and character with some nice flame - but I need something darker than Maple.

I've used curly Koa - but am looking for some other options to research.

Not an expert here on woods to use that would fit this need. I also need something that is fairly readily available.

Photos appreciated!

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

What about waterfall bubinga?

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Purpleheart, walnut, cherry, Honduran mahogany, African mahogany, sapele, pink ivory (very difficult to find, though). Check RC Tonewoods for some of those.

What top/back/side woods will it be next to?

If my experience with bending waterfall bubbling sides is any indicator - it would be a bear to bend - no pun intended.

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Thanks Dennis - I have 6 builds I will be doing next year and just looking at my options.

Here are the top/back combos:

EIR / Sitka
Spalted Tamarind / Redwood
Afr. Blackwood / Carpathian Spruce
EIR / Carpathian Spruce
Ziricote / Redwood or Carpathian
Striped Ebony / Redwood or Carpathian

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

I'd consider curly Honduran Mahogany. It has very consistant colour. Bends and works well, and really nice figure. You can find it at Hibdon.

http://www.hibdonhardwood.com/products/binding-stock

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Hey! I resemble that remark. <G>
Did you use super soft II? That stuff makes it feel like cheating. Though I haven't bent bubinga.

Hibdon had some nice looking curly mahogany last time I was there, that might be too similar to koa though. They also had some Chechen that I thought might be interesting for bindings because it is kind of verigated in color (not sure if it would be lost on a piece as thin as binding though) but it wasn't figured. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

To me, some of those builds are screaming for ebony or rosewood appointments. That's my style though. Some darker woods that you can find with curly figure: ovangkol, imbuia and the walnuts. For lighter woods, I have some waterfall bubinga SAPWOOD bindings that match incredibly well with the tones in ziricote. No experience bending it yet. Holly, to my eye, is a great contrast to the darker back and sides you have listed above. Finding usable lumber can be difficult.

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sweat the small stuff.

Aren't there some penetrating stains that would work?

Plus one on the purple heart

Curly walnut, claro or otherwise. Reasonable price, beautiful color.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Curly roasted maple.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Bob Cefalu has some nice flamed Honduran mahogany bindings cheap on ebay!

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Curly Makore
Curly Eucalyptus

Makore has a nice glow, the Eucalyptus might be a bit grey

I think that it requires a medium darkness, mahogany or cherry. I use hickory.

Bob

Sycamore...as on many Lowdens.

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Hank Mauel

Here's a photo of EIR back/Spruce top with curly mahogany bindings. The curly mahogany is readily available from StewMac or LMI, I forget which I bought it from. Looks great, and wasn't too hard to bend. The quality was pretty good, but buy twice as much as you need and pick and match the nicest pieces.