TO BIND OR NOT TO BIND A STRAT?

[cmcall]

Hey guys this is my 1st. post & 1st. Warmoth Project. LP Strat aka FatBoy Strat. Basically it's a Strat with a Les Paul specs/tone. Only one problem though, I'm not sure whether to do a full neck & body binding or none at all. What do you guys think? Mock pic attached.


BODY

Standard Strat
Flame Maple on Mahogany
Rear Rout
Natural Finish


NECK

Conversion Angled 24 3/4" Angled Strat
Mahogany/Indian Rosewood
No Inlay, Side Dots Only
Back Clear Gloss Finish
Peghead Black Gloss Finish


Thanks & Peace Out!!  :headbang:

 

[rockskate4x]

binding on the body will dig into your forearm a little more, so it should feel as well as look more like a paul

 

[line6man]

Binding always looked ugly and cheap to me, on most guitars.

I say skip it.

 

[swarfrat]

Depending on which features you consider iconic and necessary - you might want to also consider a recessed TOM bridge. I came close, but was lured into a Wilky by a showcase body. As for binding - on a strat it's kinda like shaving a wookie. Where do you stop? It has so many roundovers that I don't think binding looks right.

 

[cmcall]

I personally think binding looks awesome on Les Paul & Carved Top Bodies, whereas on Strats it looks kindda awkward due to its Forearm Contour... still can't decide though.....

 

[AutoBat]

natural masked binding looks great on an actual color
so i'd say skip the binding

 

[Danuda]

I don't think it would look good with the binding.  Too many contours.  Binding looks good on bodies with wide flat sides.

 

[nexrex]

Depending on which features you consider iconic and necessary - you might want to also consider a recessed TOM bridge. I came close, but was lured into a Wilky by a showcase body. As for binding - on a strat it's kinda like shaving a wookie. Where do you stop? It has so many roundovers that I don't think binding looks right.

I tend to agree. Binding on a strat to me just never looked right. I also second the recessed Tune-O-Matic bridge. Come to think of it, I would go with a soloist body shape instead, but that's just me

 

[cmcall]

Depending on which features you consider iconic and necessary - you might want to also consider a recessed TOM bridge. I came close, but was lured into a Wilky by a showcase body. As for binding - on a strat it's kinda like shaving a wookie. Where do you stop? It has so many roundovers that I don't think binding looks right.

I tend to agree. Binding on a strat to me just never looked right. I also second the recessed Tune-O-Matic bridge. Come to think of it, I would go with a soloist body shape instead, but that's just me

Hey guys, I 'm also considering on a recessed TOM bridge too but the neck's gonna be a compound radius so I don't think a TOM bridge is adjustable to match that radius, or is it? On a craved top soloist body a TOM bridge do looks awesome though...

 

[cmcall]

I don't think it would look good with the binding.  Too many contours.  Binding looks good on bodies with wide flat sides.

You got it right dude, binding only looks good on bodies with FLAT sides, but what about just binding the neck? Mmmmm.....

 

[AutoBat]

neck binding is alright, although you lose the option for stainless steel or gold frets.

 

[swarfrat]

There's always Jazzmaster necks if you want binding and block inlays on a strat.  Actually seen a couple recessed TOM jazzmasters that were QUITE cool - and would be a good platform for the LP sound in Fender form factor project.

 

[Kostas]

Binding all the way... :headbang:

 

[ramonet]

Why not put an accent lam between the maple and mahogany (maybe some kind of rosewood, wenge or another dark wood)? You have the "pinstripe" binding effect keeping the natural rounded corners of the Strat. If not, skip the binding.

 

[Updown]

Why not put an accent lam between the maple and mahogany (maybe some kind of rosewood, wenge or another dark wood)? You have the "pinstripe" binding effect keeping the natural rounded corners of the Strat. If not, skip the binding.

Yes thats the way to go  :icon_thumright: Since the OP wants it finished in Natural Finish.

Al thou ....
With the Drop Top Binding on Strats, expect a slightly sharper radius on the body top to accommodate the traditional binding aesthetics.
So they are a little squarer than when using the Natural Masked Binding or nothing at all.
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/StratOptions.aspx
I don't mind it at all, on the body, But it has to be just the right colours used.
Not to mad on it on Tele or Strat Necks either.

 

[veemoth]

Updown is spot on , bound strats are much squarer and "sharper" on the edges. ..so it does almost appear to have flat sides. Personally I love it, and Warmoth do a great job.

 

[cmcall]

There's always Jazzmaster necks if you want binding and block inlays on a strat.  Actually seen a couple recessed TOM jazzmasters that were QUITE cool - and would be a good platform for the LP sound in Fender form factor project.

I dig the white binding but not so the inlays as I plan to have none, maybe a custom inlay on the 12 fret later on... Besides I'm aiming for a  conversion 24 3/4" angled neck...  :headbang:

 

[elfro89]

Binding always looked ugly and cheap to me, on most guitars.

I say skip it.

+1 unless its natural masked binding.

 

[cmcall]

Why not put an accent lam between the maple and mahogany (maybe some kind of rosewood, wenge or another dark wood)? You have the "pinstripe" binding effect keeping the natural rounded corners of the Strat. If not, skip the binding.

Yes thats the way to go  :icon_thumright: Since the OP wants it finished in Natural Finish.

Al thou ....
With the Drop Top Binding on Strats, expect a slightly sharper radius on the body top to accommodate the traditional binding aesthetics.
So they are a little squarer than when using the Natural Masked Binding or nothing at all.
http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Options/StratOptions.aspx
I don't mind it at all, on the body, But it has to be just the right colours used.
Not to mad on it on Tele or Strat Necks either.

Mmmmm... wouldn't a white pinstripe looks better on a natural finish flame maple on mahogany body that a black one?

 

[Updown]

Mmmmm... wouldn't a white pinstripe looks better on a natural finish flame maple on mahogany body that a black one?

But thats Pin Striping, lot thiner than binding.

:icon_scratch: This is an interesting thread ...
As I have a Custom Build in progress at the Warmoth toy factory still.  :toothy10:
Which just happens to be a Strat with Top Binding  :laughing7:
(I'm Not using any binding on the neck)
Will have that 'Stunning Showcase Neck' (that I posted) on it.

So you have given me some idea of, who likes  :icon_thumright: & who dis-likes  :evil4: the use of binding on strats.
(That doesn't worry me in the slightest thou)

I thought I'd do something different this time around, as thats what Warmoth is all about .... something different !!
I will post plenty of pic's (when I get it)

Anyway here's some pic's of the Aerodyne Series of Fenders with Binding.
(Which I was kind of, in a way, basing my custom build around)  :icon_biggrin:

The last pic, is a custom build using Aluminium Binding.