Bound fretboard

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Bound fretboard

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ngiorgio

Posts: 168
Joined: Nov. 1 2005
From: Florida, USA

Bound fretboard

A question for the luthiers here. I have noticed that many of the Asian made classical and flamenco guitars have what appears to be a plastic binding on the edge of the fretboard. First noticed this with Yamahas. Now with the influx of Chinese and Korean imports, it seems that most of these factories use this binding. I come from a steel string background and am very familiar with bound fretboards on acoustic and electric guitars. What would be the purpose of this feature?

Here's a photo of a luthier made (DanielTurner) side view of the fingerboard and I can't see the tang of the fret showing. Nice cejilla though.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191540116087?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

Any opinions?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 2:07:30

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

It is just an exersise in tidying things up and really isn't necassery.

From a refret perspective it can make the job a lot harder. I get quite a lot of refrets in so pretty thankful that this is not a standard feature on Spanish guitars!

_____________________________

Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 9:53:03

ngiorgio

Posts: 168
Joined: Nov. 1 2005
From: Florida, USA

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

I would think that it is extra work to bind both sides of a fretboard. Although with all the pre-cut pieces and machinery at work in the factories, it might be easier to do. Good point about re-fretting.

Thanks for your reply.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 12:45:05

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3433
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

Maybe they changed the ebay photo. When I mouse over it to zoom in the tang of the second fret just about glows.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 18:59:50

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

Oh, maybe it's that... I thought I was nuts (or nuttier) for a while

I see no binding and a bit of tang into each slot.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 19:10:30

ngiorgio

Posts: 168
Joined: Nov. 1 2005
From: Florida, USA

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

Shoot. Wrong Photo. Sorry, that's one of mine. Here's the one I meant to link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hand-made-Cocobolo-Cejilla-Capo-for-Flamenco-or-Classical-guitar-REDUCED-/331513607164?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d2fc033fc

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 19:23:55

ngiorgio

Posts: 168
Joined: Nov. 1 2005
From: Florida, USA

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

Here's a link to Daniel Turners site. Appears to use the binding on many, if not all of his guitars. http://www.flamencoguitarmaker.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 19:29:09

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

Doesn't look like a binding to me. If it is, I can't really tell from that pic.

I would say that's the kind of job where the tang is cut shorter than the fret.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2015 19:30:15

ngiorgio

Posts: 168
Joined: Nov. 1 2005
From: Florida, USA

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

Perhaps this is a better photo of what my original question was about. Check out the 5th photo in this listing.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FROM-FRANCE-BEAUTIFUL-J-MARCARIO-CLASSICAL-GUITAR-ALL-SOLID-WOOD-/281663014895?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item419

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2015 15:04:13

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

quote:

Perhaps this is a better photo of what my original question was about. Check out the 5th photo in this listing.

Sorry, I see the same thing. The only difference is that this one has finish on the sides of the fretboard but that is a common thing. Still no binding to my eyes.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2015 15:12:09

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3433
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Bound fretboard (in reply to ngiorgio)

Maybe it's binding, maybe not. Well done joints in ebony can be very hard to detect. Next to last time I was at Brune's shop he showed me a 1960s Ramirez 1a blanca with the fingerboard made from two pieces of ebony joined along the length of the board. I couldn't see the joint.

My '67 Ramirez 1a blanca's fingerboard is one piece, at least from the nut to the third fret. I can tell, because there's a light colored patch there that wasn't dyed completely, and you can see the grain a little.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2015 19:58:09