Binding — Lutherie Encyclopedia

BindingType: glossaryDecorative and protective strips applied around the edges of the body, neck, and headstock to seal the exposed end grain.## Definition Binding refers to the strips of material, typically plastic, wood, or celluloid, applied around the outer edges of a guitar's body (top and back), and sometimes the fingerboard and headstock. Binding serves both a functional and decorative purpose. Functionally, it seals the exposed end grain of the soundboard and back plates where they meet the sides, protecting this vulnerable joint from moisture infiltration that could cause cracking or delamination. Decoratively, binding provides a clean visual border that frames the instrument's outline and can range from simple single-layer white or black strips to elaborate multi-layer designs with purfling accents. Common binding materials include ABS plastic, celluloid, maple, rosewood, and koa. Celluloid is favored for vintage-style instruments, while wood bindings are prized for their natural appearance on high-end guitars. ## In Practice Installing binding is one of the later steps in body construction and requires a routed or scraped channel around the body perimeter sized to match the binding strip dimensions. The binding must be bent to follow the body contour, particularly the tight curves at the waist and cutaway. Plastic and celluloid bindings can be bent with heat or solvent; wood bindings require heat-bending similar to side bending but on a smaller scale. The binding is glued into the channel and held with tape or specialized binding clamps until dry. After curing, the binding is scraped and sanded flush wi…