Binding & Purfling

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Binding & Purfling

Once you have selected your tonewoods, you can choose a material and style for your instrument binding. Bindings are both beautiful and functional, helping protect the edges of your instrument from damage.

We offer two levels of binding - Master Class and S Series.



Hallmarks of our Master Class binding package include a tapered "V" tailstrip, top and bottom body binding with bwbwb purfling on the top, back and sides, matching neck binding with and bwb purfling on the top and sides, and fine mitering throughout. The table below compares binding and purfling schemes for the two packages.

	Master Class	S/Performance
Binding, Body	Master Class Wood Binding	S Series Binding
Binding, Neck	Master Class Wood Binding	Black Binding
Purfling, Body	b/w/b/w/b on Top, Back and Sides	b/w/b on Top and Back
Purfling, Neck	b/w/b on Top & Side	none
Rosette	Master Class Spoked Rosette, Abalone	S Ring Rosette, Abalone

You can have your Master Class instrument bound with a variety of hardwoods, including Koa, Walnut, Rosewood, Bloodwood or Maple. Ivoroid, Black and Tortoise binding can also be used with the Master Class binding scheme. S-Series binding packages usually use Tortoise
Ivoroid or Black... but did we mention that we're a custom shop? If you wanted a Walnut binding done in a simpler S-Series aesthetic, we would be happy to help. We have used many other materials for guitar binding, including Snakewood, Cocobolo and more. Please contact us for more information.

	Bloodwood Brosimum Rubescens. Stunningly colored, quite beautiful and very protective.
	Ivoroid Our Ivoroid is grained. Very crisp and elegant.
	Koa Koa makes for a wonderful binding - beautiful and warm, just like you'd expect.
	Rosewood A Rosewood binding in practice is a subtly subversive thing. Mysterious and luxurious, and never overstated.
	Walnut Light to dark brown, highly figured.
	Abalone Top Purfling You can add a top purfling of Abalone to any Master Class guitar.
	Herringbone Purfling A classic choice for a purfling is Herringbone, here with our Master Class Bloodwood binding.

Binding... Unbound

At the risk of belaboring the point, we are a Custom Shop, and we welcome custom work. There are always going to be options and choices that are not listed on this web site. For instance, our luthiers occasionally fulfill requests for what they refer to as a "Kung Fu" Corner Caps - basically an extra section of binding at the apex of a Breedlove sharp cutaway. Challenging to pull off, but unmistakably impressive!



Purfling Upgrades



Complement your Master Class binding with either an Abalone or Herringbone top purfling. Abalone brings shimmer and sparkle to the top edge of your guitar, while Herringbone adds a classic, timeless touch.




Here are options and examples for S-Series binding packages.

	Black Black binding for our S and Premier series guitars.
	Ivoroid Ivoroid binding for our S and Premier series guitars.
	Tortoise Tortoise-like binding for our S and Premier series guitars.

Proceed to Fretscape Inlays...