How to fix lifting binding on a Martin acoustic guitar. 

I wanted to say thank you for sharing this video. I learned how to fix the binding on my Martin acoustic by watching this. I just repaired it and so far, so good. Thanks again bro, Jimmy F.

Well done, I have 3 Martins and all 3 have had binding issues.

Great work. A tip that I have used for decades on taping sensitive painted areas. 1. On one end fold over a few tape pieces you use at the very as you are applying to the edge binding. You do not need to do all, just one or two at the start. 2. Put each subsequent piece overlapped over the first two pieces that have the lead flaps, overlapped maybe an 1/8”, so that when it comes time to peel off all the tape it will automatically be adhered to the first one or two starter pieces. 3. Most important, to me at least, pull at an angle, and not perpendicular to the binding. The lift of your pull does not need to be aggressive. In other words do not pull straight up, use a soft angle.

It's so crazy that Martin put out so many guitars with this issue. It's happening on my D18..

thanks for the video! frankly ridiculous that this is a problem on such a nice guitar!!!

Embarrassing for a company as big as Martin to let this happen still.

I have a d28 authentic 1937 aged that the exact same thing happened on. Martin refused the warranty service on it as they said it was due to high humidity. Your video stated that it was usually due to low humidity. I find that kind of ironic. I'm going to try to use your technique to fix it myself. Wish me luck and thank you for the video.

Thank you for the video. Just discovered both bottom bindings have given way on my D16. Was little freaked out by it initially but your video stilled my beating heart. Thanks again! :-)

This happened on HD28 retro 2014 it was the top below the pick guard, I sent it to Martin through the closest authorized dealer (2 hours there 2 hours back 2xs) he charged me on one way ship then Martin charged me polish + 3 frett replacement with my permission, guitar was flawless always inside my home with proper humidity, Martin had my guitar 8 months and total $300 now my lower binding is doing the exact same thing so I will be doing the repair because I don't want Martin to have my guitar with 8 hours driving and 8 months later. I know that it was a long story but I wanted to share this with others. I love my guitar it's an incredible instrument, but I feel Martin should fix this issue, I've heard from other forums that this is very common and it shouldn't be. The long time owner of the authorized Martin dealer told me he's never seen this before and that I must be mistreating my beautiful guitar (NOT) I am the only one who touches the guitar I play almost everyday and have other guitars to play in public or if visiting friends and family. Thank you so much for this great teaching video btw the focus was fine the information was solid Gold 8

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO! I HAVE TEO MARTIN GUITARS AND ONE IS IN NEED OF REPAIR SO THANK YOU .

My Martin had the same issue. I used the same process and it turned out very nice.

Thank you for this video! I too was freaked out when i saw my binding was loose but you put my mind at ease. Should be a simple enough fix. Thanks again!

Had this issue on a 1961 D-28.Both top bindings and one side of the back had popped loose. The problem is shrinkage. The answer is more length of binding. Talked to several repair guys I knew, and they recommended removing the binding all the way to the neck joint, and then attempt to pull out the extra inch or so of binding that is under the neck joint. When I asked them how to loosen it, they only said to try and slide a feeler gauge under the binding to break the glue bond. To remove the binding up to the neck, I used a razor blade to cut through the lacquer both on the top and the sides to avoid chipping the lacquer. It was fairly easy at that point to remove the binding up to the neck.On the first side i got lucky and was able to slide the binding out without too much trouble. On the other side of the neck horn, it would not come loose. I remembered reading that Martin had used Duco Cement, or airplane glue for years to fasten the bindings. This guitar had suffered some poor care, and that is the only reason it had this issue. Duco Cement really worked, as I was discovering on the side of the neck where the binding would not come out. Duco Cement is basically thickened lacquer, so I decided that the best way to loosen it would be lacquer thinner. The trick was how to place lacquer thinner only behind the binding, and only a few very controlled drops. I used a short piece of vinyl tubing, which does not react with lacquer thinner, and screwed a hypodermic needle into the end of the tubing. With a little practice, it was easy to hold my finger on the end of the tube, and release it ever so slightly, to get a one drop at a time flow of lacquer thinner. If I ever do this again, I will purchase a glass syringe, as that would be easier to manipulate. I positioned the needle right behind the binding where it disappeared behind the neck horn. Two drops and it slid right out. Now I had the extra length I needed. Two comments here, one, I was advised not to scrape the wood fibers of the back of the binding, because that would give the hide glue something to grab. Also, I knew that if I heated up plastic to stretch it, and then forced it into place, it would only be a matter of time until nature took its course and the binding shrunk back to its original length. The repair would be under tension from the time it was done, until that tension could finally be released, recreating the problem. That is why I did the extra work to get the extra length, so the binding could be glued back in a relaxed state, without tension. That chunk you had to replace is the natural result of the material returning to its original size. Also, running a heat gun over a lacquer finish can melt the lacquer or scorch it. I used the same binding tape to glue them back into place. I would recommend cutting a form that matches the curve at the waist, and then clamping that over the tape. to make sure the binding goes all the way into the curve. The outside bends were fine with just the tape. Afterwards, I removed the tape, and cleaned up the squeeze out. I used an artist brush with some thinned brushing lacquer to touch up the razor cuts and seal the joints.

Thank you, just found this on the bottom of my custom Martin cut away, not too bad say three inches. Always keep a humidifier in the case but the temp varies and the humididtThank you, just found this on the bottom of my custom Martin cut away, not too bad say three inches. Always keep a humidifier in the case but the temp varies and the humididt

I'm a repair man in South Korea also struggling with tons of this kind of issue. At least over 50 Martin guitars during last winter I guess. Good to know that I solve the problem in almost the same way.

I have also subscribed to your channel Strumwood, thank you so much 🎉

But after cooling the plastic will shrink again and the binding will get loose in several weeks again, no? So it happened to my Martin 000-28 E.C. - Martin service repaired it, but some month later I can see first gaps again. A D-42 is an even more expensive guitar and I'm really shocked that ist issue is "a common issue" for a guitar more than 5.000 bugs! Looks like Martin is very poor quality on this😞 Why they use plastics and not wood bindings?

I have a 2005 D-42 that a small section it the binding is starting to lift. This was very helpful. Thanks.

Just noticed the back binding on my HD28 Custom Shop is staring to separate on the back. Fun fun. Great video.

This isn't a humidity or temperature issue. It's a Martin management issue. "Environmentally Friendly Glue" doesn't work - it causes the binding to shrink and come unglued. I've seen 75 year-old Martins without this issue. My 2016 Custom Shop OM has the back binding coming off. Collings guitars don't have this issue but then again they aren't run by lawyers and bean counters.

I have a 2015 Martin 000-18. I noticed just the other day that this is happening at the waist at all 4 sides, front and back. I would guess it has something to do with the build. I have about a dozen other acoustics, all stored in the same room, in their cases, and in a humidified room. This is the only guitar that had an issue, and given that it happens to all 4 edges makes me think it's the materials used or the construction. I saw another video showing a binding repair and that guy suggested Titebond isn't a good choice for plastic to wood since it's strictly a wood glue. It seems your experience suggests otherwise.

This shouldn't happen to a Martin at all for their price. Even though they're not bench made anymore their quality should still be there!

It is absolutely ridiculous that Martin hasn't addressed this issue yet. I have never seen Guild, Yamaha, Taylor, or even Gibson acoustics with such an issue. It looks like all Martins made in the last decade with plastic binding will eventually experience this. You'd have to purchase a prohibitively expensive Modern Deluxe series to avoid this issue, as wood binding is used for such guitars. Any idea if Martin resolved this issue? Are you seeing Martins made in the last two years with this issue as well? Great repair, by the way!

This has repeatedly happened to my 000 Martin guitar...ive taken it to the warranty shop. They repaired it a couple times but they don't want to do it again so I think I'll do it myself. I was thinking of pulling all the binding off the body and adding a maple wood binding. What are you thoughts?

Dude you're amazing I'm a guitar dinging son of a gun I went ahead and subscribed LOL thanks from tx

Thanks for posting My 00028 has the same issues I was afraid to expedite A repair Until I watched your video 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾✌🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

A high price guitar and being a industry pioneer, such kind of issues are not acceptable and these issues are now more visible as i seen many vedios. Martin should look into.

Have you ever pulled off the binding tape on one of these jobs and there was a chemical reaction between the tape and lacquer? It's happened to me a few times and it's steered me away from approaching it this way, which sucks because this is definitely the least time consuming way to go about it. Maybe I got an extra funky batch of binding tape? But the extra hours of unpaid finish work has left me scarred for life.

Pretty guitar. I had a D42 Custom Shop I ordered in 2004. It was the prettiest Martin for sure.. as in addition to the good looks of a standard D42 I ordered it with my details: Slight V neck..select most figured Madagascar Rosewood Body..tightest grain Adirondack top and Abalone on the actual face edge of the fingerboard and headstock which I had seen in a Custom Shop catalog in the early 1990's but never on a live guitar.. So there is one really nice looking D42 Custom out there. For me it flopped.. as I asked for.."the most responsive bracing"..but regular scalloped bracing was used. That together with that tight grained Adirondack was not as lively as I would have liked. If I would do it again right now I would order everything the same but with Authentic Bracing and construction but with Super glue on plastic bindings and instead of D42 it would be an old 1930's style 0042 with short scale neck. I sold that and used the $ to get a Lowden 050 Sitka/Koa the type two (more inlay but still plain) and a painting. Right now I have a Martin D28A Authentic 1941(2013) which is really responsive with a similar neck to the Custom but it's at the factory with this binding issue. : )

Doing this today!You rock! Liked and subscribed :)

Every Martin I own has this problem, no other guitars out of 32 acoustics. 😮

Ι don't have a Martin but I have a Guild JF-55 with a similar problem - the binding on top as well as that of the neck started cracking with bits falling off just a couple of years after i bought it brand new. I kept gluing it back and seems to be stabilized after 25 years since the problem appeared, although i didn't do the neatest job. It is funny that this issue does not appear on cheaper guitars with laminate back and sides, of which I had several in the past and i still have two of them.

I sold my 3 Martins and landed on Taylor guitars. It's discouraging that the Martin guitar Co. has allowed this to be an issue.

what kind of glue are you using? could you add a Tools list to the description? incredible video, thank you so muhc!!!!! :D

Just repaired my d35. Moved from a hot and humid environment to a cooler dryer one. Took 2 years for my guitars to transition. All is good.

The Modern Deluxe Martin they used wood binding now maple

amd then it happens again next year or the year after. ugh

I’ve never had this issue with any of my acoustics. But none of them are made by Martin. First rate repair by the way.

Nice video. The thumbnail should have shown a reciprocating saw though.

The martin so called repair person in my area, made sure he sanded off a little finish on the back side of the guitar while fixing the binding thank god its just a d 41 and not a nice guitar like a mitchell guitar ,Maybe the martin repair guys should watch your video, My dad is old school .if you can't do it right don't do it at all. The problem with most people now a days nobody can do anything right .

I can repair the glue on the Martin edge strips without damage, especially those old pianos with a certain year of paint that are relatively fragile. As long as you sand off anything, it has damaged a lot

I sold my Martin and bought a Blueridge br280 if it's not this then it's the neck angle. I'm done with martin saving up for a Gallagher or Huss and Dalton.

I thought titebond ll was a wood glue!? If so, how long will it stick to the plastic binding? Thx. I find few glues stick to plastic for long as did Martin, Gibson and Guild obviously.

I have two 2014 Martin guitars that I just noticed have the issue. A custom shop 0-45 and OM-45. A surprise given the prices of the guitars. Good video. I think I may need to first test tape to make sure it won't cause an issue with the finish. Guess I need to get a heat gun. Any idea how hot the gun has to be? Would a hair dryer work?

Bottom back binding on my HD-28V is separating after 6 years. I am the original owner so I assume it is covered by Martin's warranty. Still a great guitar.

So the part where the binding split and you cut a square to fill a gap...is that the only way to do that? I was wondering if it's possible to heat the binding on both sides and stretch it so both sides meet up. Or is that ill-advised? Thanks!

My 2017 D18 just started having this problem, back binding at the lower curve, about 2 inches so far. I'm gonna leave it alone for now and hope it doesn't get (much) worse. At least I got it used for under 2k. But seriously, how can this be a problem for a high end manufacturer?

Wish I had seen this first , I had my buddy fix my D 35

I would have liked to see the actual patch

So it may have been answered in a previous comment but when noticing the very start of that, what would you or most recommend to keep it from getting worse out side of climate control. But by no means that bad as in the video. But being it literally just started hoping i can find something to keep from getting worse

What kind of tape is that? Also did you heat the top part? I only saw you heat the middle. How long did you leave the tape on also? It turned out awesome.

Titebond II with ABS binding ? Usually I use thicker CA glue.

best way to avoid martin binding issue, buy wood binding martin guitar, but you need to pay more than the same standard model.

Nice work

Every time I use tape to repair binding, the tape distorts the finish and I end up having to level sand and buff to repair where the tape pulled on the finish. How do you avoid this?

If I owned a $10,000 guitar the f**king binding had better not shrink or lift.

You trimmed the most important part

Thank you for this video. Here’s another reason for me not to buy a Martin guitar.

Both of my martins have done this

Can you provide links to the glue and tape that you used?

There is no excuse for the binding problem. Martin needs to pay people for this. Class action suit?

I get my Martin binding fixed by luthier but my sweat takes it out every time, and the binding shrinks , so it must be cut :(

How much would you take for such a service? 😅

Good work bro.. I have a question about heat Gun : 1- could it become risky and cause the loose of the inside braces ? 2- I have 20 years old Yamaha classical guitar and its finish go from clear to cloudy could the heat Gun solve it and restore the clear look again ? Thank you Bro

What glue did you use?

How to fix lifting binding on a Martin acoustic guitar? Bring it to a Martin certified repair shop and pay nothing.

I also use the brown binding tape but I found that it can pull wrinkles into the finish of the guitar. How do you avoid this issue?

I can't seem to find the binding tape. Is there an accessible alternative you would suggest?

Use mute and CC if you don't want listen to annoying noises. Otherwise good info.

On my d35 I can feel my binding beginning to lift in one spot the size is about an inch in length. Im scared to let anyone touch it and definitely wont do it myself. Its not separated but isnt smooth. Would the repair be the same? What other methods should i expect or avoid when taking this to get fixed?

And when you send it back to Martin they try to charge you Sick of my Martin just problem after problem

the heat gun won't bubble the nitro? also will duco cement work with plastic binding?

Is the Martin company doing anything to sort this out? This shouldn't be happening. Has the company started using a different type of plastic or glue, for example - does anyone know?

Excellent ! I wondered about the glue type ? Nothing special for plastic to wood ? Hopefully, I never need this repair as I keep the humidity above 40 percent even in winter.

Not sure I want to buy a martin hd 28 now. I was going to make payments. Maybe a gibson J45?

can the blue painting tape be used?

Thanks for the content ..What kind of glue is best here? ... I've heard many different references to glue in this situation from stewmacs white super and fish glue... titebond or tightbond ?? does it set fast or leave plenty of time for newb speed? lol

How to fix binding. Dont use crappy shitty ivoroid binding. No plastic please.

Damn, never seen binding come off.

Nice video, but please lose the music!

Amazing, a $10000 guitar with such cheap plastic binding. I’d never buy Martin.

So much anxiety watching you pulling that tape off cold.