Tiny bindings

[Dave Bagwill]

Atkins guitar co. does upon occasion use what they call 'tiny bindings' - just cover the endgrain of the top and back plates, none of the rim is routed.

I like the look a lot, but I like other more traditional schemes as well. My concern with the tiny bindings is that there are no purflings, the importance of which I'm getting more convinced. However with prudent thinning of the perimeter of the top perhaps the lack of purflings would not be that important?

What do you think?

[Herman]

Sorry Dave, I've no clue what you mean.
Herman

[John Parchem]

I thought the purfling mostly decorative. On my guitars they are glued to the portion of the top that are glued to the linings. So I can not see them doing much acoustically. It also seems like you can have the tiny bindings and still cut a channel for purflings.

[Dave Bagwill]

I was referring to the 'hinge' effect of the purfling, in that it effectively thins the perimeter of the plate and adds to the ability of the plate to move.

[John Parchem]

Does your purfling area generally extend past your linings or kerfed linings? I would have thought that the hinge effect would be at the end of the lining. Where the top is glued to the lining I have to imagine that it is pretty fixed in place.

[Dave Bagwill]

Gads, you're right of course. Congrats, you passed the test!! :-)

[John Parchem]

maybe works for a violin, where I believe the purfling line and the re-curve that the purfling is in is out past the lining.