Fretboard binding. In or out?

[Emmanuel]

Just wondering..
Have been enjoying my PRS Santana core (without a fretboard binding) since some time ago.

These days, I am just browsing for new PRS models however I am not going to purchase one just because whenever I see this plastic white binding at the fretboard, I am kind of ''no''..

What about you?

 

[Ruffone]

I’m not a fan of binding at all, to me it cheapens the look of a guitar. Now throw on some nice abalone purfling on the fretboard and I’m all in.

 

[DISTORT6]

For me, it’s model dependent.
Original style McCarty - Nope
Custom 22/24’s - Nope
McCarty 594’s - Yup
Flame maple neck binding on a PS is a yup 100% of the time.
As usual, I’m firmly indifferent.

 

[11top]

I’m a fan.

 

[JasonE]

I like it and seem to be the only one so far that does. It is also model dependant for me. I like it on my 594 and SC-58. I also have it on my HB guitars. It kind of finishes the look of the fretboard. I have other PRS guitars that don't have it that I don't think would look as good with it.

EDIT: Thanks 11Top for joining the pro binging team with me.

 

[bodia]

I'm indifferent. I wish it was maple, but the plastic isn't a "no go" for me.

 

[Mozzi]

Not bothered either way. I have some with (both my 594's) and 'most' without (both Cu24s, Special, HBii and 509) and I can't say either really matters to me. I would prefer 'wood' binding - maple for example - to Plastics if I had a choice. I will not buy a PRS 'wrap' style finish as I want faux binding on the Body, but I'm not so bothered about the fretboard...

 

[JasonE]

I'm indifferent. I wish it was maple, but the plastic isn't a "no go" for me.

I agree. Flame maple binding would be much nicer and match the scraped binging on the body. My only thing with it is that the material the dots are made out of has to be a high contrast to the binding. That is one thing the white binding provides that I like. I have played some older PRS guitars that had small, very hard to see dots on them. I am also not a fan of the single dot at the 12th. The dots are the one mistake I made on a custom built Suhr I had made. I had to get them drilled out and replaced because I couldn't see them.

 

[Birdsofprey]

Never found any plastic that improved tone.

 

[vchizzle]

Most of the time, I’m a no but I don’t mind it on most 594’s. It accents nicely in my eyes.

 

[ViperDoc]

I love it. I find it easier to see the markers, and I think it looks cool, especially in flamed maple. ROAR.

 

[BabyDuck1487]

It looks good on some necks, like a LP Custom. I cant think of any PRS models that I would actually choose to have a bound board over how good the wood, even on the side by the markers, looks.

 

[phillybri]

I hate it on electrics, tolerate it on acoustics.

 

[Gtrbldr]

I'm a fan. I think it looks classic and additional bonus of visible fret markers are a nice bonus

 

[The Bird]

I answered Yes, but only 1 of my 3 core PRSi has fretboard binding - a McCarty 594. I do not miss it in my other guitars, and frankly, it would look weird on a Custom 24. So, I could just as well answer No. I say, PRS know what they’re doing with all of their models.

 

[dmatthews]

I can take it or leave it. Didn't really think I'd like it, then got my first 594 and it's all good by me.

 

[starscream67]

I cannot convey how much I hate binding. I love PRS models that have no neck binding and natural body binding - it was a huge part of the initial draw towards PRS as a brand for me. I feel like these days I’m forced to choose between my hate of tremolos and my hate of binding with PRS. I’m hoping they put that dusty waring hard tail bridge on the stock CE24 as an option and maybe add the 08 mini toggles too, or maybe one day I’ll win lotto and can private stock that config.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I like it on Ted’s, SC’s, and The Golden Eagle.

It makes no real sense to me aesthetically on a Santana Retro though. Not that it would stop me.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

On certain models, but not all of them.

 

[FragileThunder]

Poll needs a "Maybe" option. Depends on the guitar. Love the maple binging on my SE HBII, glad the CU24 has none. The plastic binding on my Ibanez Artist definitely helps set that guitar off, so dig it there.