What Archtop Guitars have no binding?

[GuyBoden]

Which Archtop Guitars are available that have no binding?

[AllanAllen]

Binding protects the edges from damage

[GuyBoden]

Binding protects the edges from damage

Yes I know, but over time, it can create more trouble than it's intended purpose.

I'd prefer no binding.

[AllanAllen]

More trouble? Like having a functional instrument? Is this a long game G.A.S. thing?

(I'm just being silly now, I know you're talking about personal taste)

[sgosnell]

The only practical way to build a guitar with no binding is to have the tops and backs overlap the sides, as in violins. Many builders now offer wood binding, but binding nevertheless. Not many choose to build guitars with the tops and backs overhanging the sides, which creates its own problems.

[Doug B]

Benedetto Andy and Benedetto Bravo Elite have no bindings.

[SierraTango]

The Landscape MIJ guitars were built with violin construction. No bindings.

[ArchieHollow]

Ken Parker makes archtops with fiddle edge, no binding

[joe2758]

Now THAT is cool

[Gitterbug]

One more Benedetto: La Venezia.

[Gilpy]

My Rancourt has no bindings or inlay. (Those dots are stick-ons)

[ThatRhythmMan]

One more Benedetto: La Venezia.

Here is a photo of the edge of the top of a La Venezia meeting the side and the neck.





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[Sam Sherry]

Halfway there: Eastman El Rey 4 has no edge-binding on the top, fingerboard or pegehead, and maple binding on the back.

[floatingpickup]

Here is a closeup of my Dale Unger American Legend 7 string guitar, which is hand-carved from all solid wood without binding. This gives the guitar a unique/attractive look, showing off the edge of the carved spruce nicely. Incidentally, if anyone is looking for a guitar like this, it is currently on consignment at Guitars ‘N Jazz. Dale Unger American Legend Carved 7 String Natural Blonde Archtop w/ OHSC — Guitars 'n Jazz

[AllanAllen]

Some nice looking guitars in this thread!

[Gitterbug]

Bindings make perfect sense IMHO. Looking at my buddies' battered double basses, I wonder why tradition still outweighs reason. In that camp, "mint" just doesn't exist. However, I'm asking why guitar bindings must be flush with the instrument's sides instead of being glued outside, as true buffers. They could be even rounded for better looks.

[GuyBoden]

Bindings make perfect sense IMHO. Looking at my buddies' battered double basses, I wonder why tradition still outweighs reason. In that camp, "mint" just doesn't exist. However, I'm asking why guitar bindings must be flush with the instrument's sides instead of being glued outside, as true buffers. They could be even rounded for better looks.

Some good points.

I find that sometimes the 'plastic' binding on vintage archtop guitars can move at a different rate than the wood. Therefore the 'plastic' binding cracks or comes away from the wood needing to be repaired.

This is unlikely to occur if you keep your vintage archtop guitars in a controlled environment and don't take them out of the house.

[Doctor Jeff]

Some good points.

I find that sometimes the 'plastic' binding on vintage archtop guitars can move at a different rate than the wood. Therefore the 'plastic' binding cracks or comes away from the wood needing to be repaired.

This is unlikely to occur if you keep your vintage archtop guitars in a controlled environment and don't take them out of the house.

[Cunamara]

I have thought that viol style design would be uncomfortable on an instrument resting on your leg, and that this is why Torres and others designed the flush binding they did. An unbound top is at greater risk for splitting if struck in the end grain.

[jads57]

I wouldn’t buy an Archtop without body binding wood or plastic. Neck binding isn’t a big deal except for feel maybe.And a refret on an unbounded fingerboard is cheaper as well
But my own experience is that spruce tops are very soft and prone to damage without the binding.

[RJVB]

I have thought that viol style design would be uncomfortable on an instrument resting on your leg

I realise you probably made a typo, but viols also rest on the leg(s) ... and they typically do not have violin-family style overhanging plates:





but of course cellos do have overhangs and they were held the same way as bass viols were until someone invented the end-pin.

The Slaman Dome archtops don't have binding IIRC (they're flat-backs though). I had a Kirschnek/Troubadour budget archtop that also had no bindings.

[GuyBoden]

Marin Marais playing the Viola da Gamba

[RJVB]

That's the famous portrait of Marin Marais but definitely not the usual way of playing the bass viol! (I've seen the used as a kind of resting/standby position during rehearsals, esp. when the player isn't wearing long pants )

[Cunamara]

I realise you probably made a typo, but viols also rest on the leg(s) ... and they typically do not have violin-family style overhanging plates:


but of course cellos do have overhangs and they were held the same way as bass viols were until someone invented the end-pin.

The Slaman Dome archtops don't have binding IIRC (they're flat-backs though). I had a Kirschnek/Troubadour budget archtop that also had no bindings.

no, no, not a typo but instead ignorance. My only personal experience of that family is a cello that I played in grade school and observation of upright basses, violins, and violas which I have never played. I generalized from there inaccurately.

[RJVB]

no, no, not a typo but instead ignorance.

So you thought viols is the generic name of the bowed instrument family?

Not wrong if you go back far enough, but if you do that they (can) also include the guitar family (as still apparent in the Pt. name for the guitar)