Gold binding - any idea?

Hi, I'm gonna build a black/gold tele beauty, and I was wondering if a gold binding (like on the Gretsch White Falcon or some Les Pauls) on the top could make the difference.

Does anyone know what to use to make it? Brass, copper, plastic? A false binding with gold paint? A simple touch by King Mida?

I just can't figure out.

Thanks for the help

Mauro

What Gretsch used on the White Falcon/White Penguin was Gold Sparkle drum wrap (material used to cover drums). Remember, here in New York, the Gretsch factory at the time built guitars AND drums, so it was easy for them to obtain. It is also readily-available here in the USA. I don't know ab out Europe.

EKO and other Italian makers in the '60's used gold sparkle accordian plastic, very similiar to the Gretsch drum plastic, probably could be sourced in Europe, there must be people supplying it. It isn't visible in this pic but the edges of the body have gold sparkle binding.

Get yourself some 1mm x 6mm brass flat bar. Rough (key) the inner surface with 400 grit sandpaper and glue using epoxy.

You'd need to clear coat with an appropriate polyurethane though. Many companies sell poly that's specifically designed to adhere to metals (and would be fine on wood).

Or you could dull it up (to get non-specific paint to stick) and hope the paint brings back the lustre.

Thanks to you all for the suggestions.

[jrfrond / Jimmyspaz] the drum wrap material (and the similar Eko one) are a great idea, that I didn't even know about. The thickness is 30/1000 of an inch (0,76 mm) and could be enough to work it on. The only trouble seems to find a drum wrap seller that can make it in 6mm stripes (aside from the price!). I'll ask.

[nickjd] your idea was my first thought. While there could be no trouble in clear coating it with the right poly (I've got a friend with a furniture building lab), what I fear is the entire process of bending (it's metal...) and epoxing it. But for me it's the best looking option, solid metal gold colour!

I thought also to cover some plastic binding with gold leafs, but it's a time consuming work, too much complicated.

Now it's time to make some trials!

Stay tuned...

Mauro

I think the biggest problem you will have is not getting accidental bends as brass is pretty soft. Probably the best plan is to pre form it to a near shape around the cutting template. It might also be a plan to do it in two bits with a join at the tail of the body, you may have to do this anyway depending on the lengths the brass comes in.
Good luck

I think you should revisit the gold leaf idea. Many guitar builders do a "faux binding" that is actually painted on. You could mask off the area on the guitar that will receive the gold leaf, brush on the adhesive, and lay down the leaf. It will take some time, but I think the act of forming the brass to fit with any kind of precision will take much longer. And remember, the brass will distort at the edges on tight curves. The edges will raise up in the opposite direction of the bend, leaving a slight u-shaped cross section that will have to be filed down. If you still want to try the brass, heating it up with a torch until it glows a dull red will soften it quite a bit.

Another idea would be to use gold paint. Spray a couple of coats on and then spatter it with a darker metallic paint to give it an interesting texture.

Just think, if you use the leaf, not only will you save yourself a lot of work, you will have the bragging rights of being able to say you used real gold on your guitar.

I think the biggest problem you will have is not getting accidental bends as brass is pretty soft. Probably the best plan is to pre form it to a near shape around the cutting template. It might also be a plan to do it in two bits with a join at the tail of the body, you may have to do this anyway depending on the lengths the brass comes in.
Good luck

I'm not so expert in bending metals, it really could end up with a big mess! But I'll do a try.

Thank you

Mauro

I think you should revisit the gold leaf idea. Many guitar builders do a "faux binding" that is actually painted on. You could mask off the area on the guitar that will receive the gold leaf, brush on the adhesive, and lay down the leaf. It will take some time, but I think the act of forming the brass to fit with any kind of precision will take much longer. And remember, the brass will distort at the edges on tight curves. The edges will raise up in the opposite direction of the bend, leaving a slight u-shaped cross section that will have to be filed down. If you still want to try the brass, heating it up with a torch until it glows a dull red will soften it quite a bit.

Another idea would be to use gold paint. Spray a couple of coats on and then spatter it with a darker metallic paint to give it an interesting texture.

Just think, if you use the leaf, not only will you save yourself a lot of work, you will have the bragging rights of being able to say you used real gold on your guitar.

Definitely the brass option frightens me, but I'll try on a scrap.

The gold leaf isn't a very fast option nor easy, but I think it can give a good result by covering a normal binding with the gold leaf. Also I have to try it.

Going to search for some g-leaf or equivalent.

I'll let you know

Mauro

Pickguardian offers a gold sparkle acrylic material which kinda reminds me of White Falcon binding a bit. I have no idea if the material is usable for binding, but it might be worth looking into (called "gold glitter" here):

http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardian/New%20Materials.html

I'm evaluating two solutions:

1) I found some brass stripes of 1/4" by 1/18" thin, very flexible. I'll make a test on a scrap: I am thinking to carve the channel, glue the stripe, paint it black, scrap (or better light sand) the binding, finish it with poly.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/maumari/Gold%20Binding/IMG_8504.jpg

2) I found Liquid Metal resin
http://www.prochima.it/pages/metal.htm
which is very liquid when you prepare it and could be used to fill the binding having routed it on the body. When it cures it becomes very similar to metal and can be glossed to a nice shine (I've seen some objects). This option seems very hard to me, but worth a try!

Now I have to make a jig for my Dremel to route the 1/18" carving...

I'll let you know

Mauro

The simplest and cheapest adjustable jig to carve a 1/18" route for the brass binding

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/maumari/Gold%20Binding/IMG_8507.jpg

Next step is the trial on the scrap piece of maple...

Got the time to give a try, bought the Stewmac router binding stuff and carved the channel on a bubinga scrap

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/maumari/Gold%20Binding/IMG_8525.jpg

then epoxed the brass stripe

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/maumari/Gold%20Binding/IMG_8526.jpg

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m57/maumari/Gold%20Binding/IMG_8528.jpg

now I'm waiting for it all to cure, tomorrow I'll see the result.

You'll see.

Mauro

There are plenty of custom pickguard companies out there that have gold colored acrylic for making custom shaped pickguards. I'm sure you good get some sheet goods from them or they might give you the info for their suppliers who might be able to help.

http://www.terrapinguitars.com/materials/2009/index.html