Body binding question

[Miffy rules]

Does body binding make any difference in playing? I mean, there's this plastic "belt" glued along the body, and when you rest your picking forearm on the guitar body, this special addition might theoretically give you a different feeling than a normal body does. My question is, is there really such a difference? And if so, does it feel better or worse?

Btw, what is that "covered pickup" option in Jackson's order form?

Thanx for your info. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[Zamiale]

Re: Body binding question

Body binding is strictly cosmetic. The binding is cut into to the guitar and is flush with the rest of the body. To the touch, you should feel no difference unless it's a crap job.

[StukaJU87]

Re: Body binding question

Originally posted by Zamiale:
Body binding is strictly cosmetic. The binding is cut into to the guitar and is flush with the rest of the body. To the touch, you should feel no difference unless it's a crap job.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Not true, in my opinion. For example, let's use the Kelly. The KE2 has a beveled body. The KE2T has a bound top without the bevels. The top where your forearm would rest WILL feel different than a beveled body. Not a big deal, but Miffy asked if it would feel different, and to me it does.

As for the "covered pickup" option, I believe that is just asking if you want the pickup coils exposed or covered.

[Miffy rules]

Re: Body binding question

Thanx for the replies.
[img]graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

Now let's say I have an oiled natural finish body, and put a body binding on it. The texture of an oiled wood and plastic binding might be certainly all the more different, right?

A related question is about bevel and contour. As Stuka said KE2T has binding instead of bevel. Likewise, from what I've seen, soloist with binding has no contour to rest your forearm, and I guess it will definitely feel different, perhaps even uncomfortable. Just an observation though. Opinions? [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[Zamiale]

Re: Body binding question

Obviously one would feel a difference between a KE2 (with bevels) and a KE2T (without bevels). I was under the impression that the question was directed toward a comparison between two exact body shapes, the only difference being the body binding. If that is the case, one should feel no difference between the two if the binding is applied correctly and flush with the rest of the body.

[Ralph E.]

Re: Body binding question

Originally posted by Miffy rules:
Likewise, from what I've seen, soloist with binding has no contour to rest your forearm, and I guess it will definitely feel different, perhaps even uncomfortable. Just an observation though. Opinions? [img]graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Absolutely a different feel. When you are used to a regular strat body and pick up a flat top/bound strat, you will notice a "digging in" feel on your forearm from the sharper angle that the binding creates. Obviously, this bothers some more than others. I always found myself going back to a regular strat body for comfort.

[charvel750]

Re: Body binding question

Zamiale is absolutely correct. You guys are comparing totally different guitars with and without binding. THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE in feel. If you remove the binding from a guitar the physical feel will be exactly the same. Binding is, as was properly stated above, strictly cosmetic. Of the 50 guitars I own, almost half are bound. In the dark you wouldn't know if you had one that was or wasn't bound.