How To Build An Acoustic Guitar Episode 20 (Gluing The Binding On The Back) 

We now sell hand selected and resawn Tonewoods on our website! Each piece was found by Chris Alvarado, and almost always has a story to go along with it. Go check out the selection at www.driftwoodguitars.com/tonewood

I can't tell you how much you have inspired and educated me! I started my first build in January of 2020, taking a course at our local community college…then covid hit. Although I have been building my inventory of tools and creating my home shop, my fear of making mistakes has held me back. Your video on your first guitar helped me to realize my first guitar won’t be my best and it’s ok to make mistakes and learn from them. Thank you!

It was the coolest feeling to see my name (#22) on the whiteboard near the edge sander. Had to pause the video and show my wife. Had the biggest smile on my face. I can’t wait!

The colour of the body wood with the maple binding is stunning!

I'm not a luthier, nor an aspiring luthier. But I am a guitar player and I find the craftsman ship that goes into guitars to be so fascinating. ty for this.

Luvin' the 3000yr old guitar, and Woodstock series. Really shows how much work goes into building truly unique guitars. Thanks as always.

Anxiously awaiting more episodes of this build!

Thank you so much for these videos! I'll wait as long as it takes for each one. Do what you guys have to do to build the channel. I always love the content. "Tiny desk" performances are nice too. But I especially love the build videos. Again, thank you.

Love this series: Well thought out procedures; Great explanations, & good humour. Thanks

I am really enjoying this series! Keep up the great work.

Another great one...looking forward to EP.21

I have binged every one of your videos in a week. 100% convinced this is something I want to do myself next year when I get a house/ workspace. Thank you for being open about your process and doing these videos.

Finally !! Love this series!!

This is a fascinating series, keep it up. I love your work. Whilst looking into guitar building myself I came across a piece of MIT research from 2015 into the shape and size of violin sound holes that I thought might pique your interest or inspire you. The researchers found that a key feature affecting a violin’s sound is the shape and length of its “f-holes,” the f-shaped openings through which air escapes: The more elongated these are, the more sound a violin can produce. What’s more, an elongated sound hole takes up little space on the violin, while still producing a full sound - a design that the researchers found to be more power-efficient than the rounder sound holes of the violin’s ancestors, such as medieval fiddles, lyres, and rebecs. The thickness of a violin’s back plate also contributes to its acoustic power. Violins carved from wood are relatively elastic: As the instrument produces sound, the violin’s body may respond to the air vibrations, contracting and expanding minutely. A thicker back plate, they found, would boost a violin’s sound.

Another great episode!

Ready for the next episode. It's been awhile.

Great video as usual. My quick binding tape tip. Fold the tape onto it self on the top making a small tab, making removal much easier. It always comes off in one piece and quickly.

I have been building guitars for over 40 years, and I used Titebond for most of that time. I only used hide glue when repairing violin family instruments or vintage instruments originally constructed with hide glue. A few years ago I learned of fish glue, and tried it, first on repairs and later on new instruments I built. I have switched almost entirely to fish glue now, both because it is a hard-drying organic like hide glue and because of the long working time. For me, it is perfect for wood bindings and purfling. It becomes tacky almost immediately, but has a long open time and a longer working time. It does need a bit more time to fully cure, but never longer than overnight. That harder set-up also seems less likely to absorb vibration energy. Just another take on glue.

Been binge watching the channel and I love it! Huge fan! Have you built any dreadnought shaped guitars? And will there be more series where u build a guitar and show the whole process!! Please!!

Man, I’m hanging out for the update on the guitar cos I REALLY want to see the inlay approach as well as the finishing process. Fascinated to see how the finished product comes out… and sounds.

Excellent Thank you for the video. Kimball

looking good, cant wait until the spraying video

wrapper's delight👌

Thanks Chris & Matt, I’m looking forward to the top binding as I’m doing an abalone purfling for the first time so I want too see how you do it.🙏🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🎸🎸🎹🎼👨🏻‍🦯👨🏻‍🦯

Binding rubber bands suggestion. I use Bike tire inner tubing which is cut into strips, washed and then volcanize (glue) each strip end to end. It may be time consuming but over time it saves money and if you do it right they will last as long as the Stew Mac ones.

As an emergency physician and father of 4 I can tell you that your light hearted and info filled content is a much needed reprieve from the harsh reality of the other side of life. Thanks for all you do.

If I may, coming into the waist where there is a chance of the tape breaking, you can dispense 2 segments of tape, put one on top of the other and then apply to the binding. Holds really well and doubles the strength of the tape.

Thanks friends! Lesson learned - measure twice and cut once! Or was is there times…? Another great video.

Great series on this build and excellent video work! I've built all of one acoustic guitar but plan on more so this has been a good refresher course for me. One question, though - why not put glue between the binding and the purfling? I realize both are glued to the body but no glue between each piece of binding/purfling seems like a missed opportunity for additional strength in that area.

Long time ago, I wanted a rubber band like that, but couldn't find one, so I bought a bicycle inner tube for a couple of dollars and cut this endless rubber band from it. Its pretty good. Seems like it was about 25 feet long and filled up a drawer in my cabinet. You just have to be a straight scissor operator. The rubber is pretty strong so I think I settled on 1/2" wide strip.

Thanks for all the great videos! Two questions: 1. Why not use one long piece of binding and purfling and skip the front joint altogether? 2. How well is the purfling glued to the binding? It looks like the only glue there would be from squeeze out.

Very enjoyable production. I anxiously await your next videos on this build. Someday I will build a great guitar thanks to you teaching me how to do it.

Thanks, fellas! Enjoyed this latest edition of the 3K year old guitar. Got my piece of wood from it in the mail the other day 😁

nice tip with the edge sander with binding.do you have a tip jar for gleaners top tip for paying it forward so you can buy more glue

Hello. Love this series!! I was wondering what was the thinking behind the choice of not including the center backstrip inlay? Does it make it a better quality guitar? Or it's just purely a matter of personal taste?

I really cant think of a better way to use such ancient and rare wood. Its put the wood on display and use for an untold amount of generations.👍

Nice work!! My Martin 00L-17 binding has pulled away from waist and made just small gap and it does want to press back by hand almost like it was too small or either shrank ... does it need to have new binding or will the binding stretch a little to get it glued and pressed back to the waist?

Amazing videos. Quick question- i have faced a lot of issue bending figured maple binding, as it breaks easily. Did u face the same issue?

I've been following this since the beginning and I can't wait to hear what it sounds like! You don't see many ebony bodied guitars. What are the sonic properties of ebony compared to more traditional tone woods like mahogany or rosewood? Just curious.

Hey you made an opening segment!

DO you use the LMI glue because it has the black light reactive additive? so when you finish your guitars you can clean up easier? I thought it was titebond 1

One question I have. No glue between the maple binding and perfling? Is there squeese out that comes up between the two?

as you said it, i look over at my 0-18 martin thats plastic binding is coming off at the back haha

Why not have a continuous binding all the way around n meet at the base for the back of guitar? Same question for the front but have it meet at the top where neck covers it?

Question: Why not put the guitar back into the body form clamp with plastic wrap low in the form for stronger even clamping force?

I love your what you doing a lot..plss give some of your masterpiece.. 😂

I see what you’re saying about plastic binding, but man it’s just something with that D28 look

No one is going to fight me on that.......looking forward to the next mean comments video!

Any update for this guitar?

So, apparently liking and subscribing is great. However, I've also heard that commenting helps the channel. ...That's it. Nothing more to add. 😉

Chris, on some of your videos you use a hand-held "spindle"? on your hand drill for some of the sanding. What is it called and where can I purchase one? Haven't been able to find it on Stewmac or LMI...maybe I just don't know how to search for it? Thanks!

Did Matt finish the amp?

How did I miss the episodes 21 etc attaching the neck and hearing how this guitar sounds??? p

what holds the binding to the perfling

Godamn.... The wood on the back gives me wood.

When the Orangewood?

It looks like your drill press has a mullet. I can't unsee it. I will call him Drilly Ray Cyrus

When do we get to see the finish?

So how much does a 3000 year old guitar run? I am intrigued.

You should totally do that end graft wrap onto the front. Subtle art deco. In abalone? fahgedabowdit....

What happened to this series?

I wish my name was Stewart McDonald lol

Let’s just operate under the assumption that I don’t have the money to buy the rubber bands from Stew Mac. Can you use something else like medical grade rubber bands or old bicycle tire tubes?

In defense of plastic binding: "RRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" *hooting and mouth farting noises*

The wooden binding does not melt if you are sanding either…

I can certainly understand why a factory built guitar, or an amateur builder, would go for plastic binding, but yeah. Wood looks classier and ages better.

You didn’t glue between perfling and binding, isn’t that a risk?

I like to have flexible joints too...🚬

In the close ups the sound is much better. The voice, seems the uggly same... 😅

the wood matches your hair color. 😐 old indeed...

2000 years of this 3000 yaers took the building process 😂.. Just a joke bro

It’s too bad you guys don’t have any fun…

make your own lining you say? make your own binding you say? ok. i'll allow this brainwashing to occur.

Im sure you make a great guitar, but to be completely honest, I can’t finish a video due to the long winded speech. I REALLY tried to stay focused with no avail. Just a lot of “I” and “Me.” I gave it a honest effort, and tried to watch 7-8 videos. I never comment, but I was compelled to say why I just can’t anymore. Bashing high end guitar companies by a “Professional Luthier” can be hard to watch. Your guitars must be above and beyond anything that Martin or Taylor could ever make. It’s more like a podcast than a video. I personally watch videos to learn, not to hear people talk about hypotheticals. Showing is better than explaining several different scenarios, and taking a whole video to bind one side of a guitar. I know I’m bashing but hey, just trying to give a little constructive criticism. If you can’t take it, then don’t dish it. I wanted to get into your stuff very badly. Again, I’ve watched 7 or more videos, so I made sure I gave it a good chance. Sincerely, much respect. I’m just a spectator that plays guitar and builds furniture and Bows on the side.

Finish this please ! Enough of the goofy content …