What's Up With the Orange Binding on My 2021 SC594?

[JJDon]

The SC594 is my favorite guitar, so I decided to get a second to have a different pickup config. I also wanted one in plain black like a LP black beauty with the light binding around the body. Since SC594s aren't made anymore, there was only one available online on Reverb (2021). I love the guitar, but when I received it, and even in the pictures I saw online, the binding was a lot darker/more orange in person than I expected. Compare that to the binding on most other 594's I've seen (I'll list some examples below), including my other one, and I'm wondering if PRS screwed up when doing the binding or something else happened? It mainly bothers me because the binding is so off colored compared to the neck binding. I don't think I've ever seen a binding this dark on any PRS in general.

Not sure if its worth it depending on the price, but do you think PRS PTC would be able to fix this if I ever wanted to send it in to make it lighter/match the neck binding?












This is the binding from 3 different, and random 594s I've seen online.









The binding on my other 594

 

[DISTORT6]

It's wood being wood.
Just a darker piece of maple. It might also be part of the reason the guitar is a solid finish.

 

[JJDon]

It's wood being wood.
Just a darker piece of maple. It might also be part of the reason the guitar is a solid finish.

Would maple normally be that dark though?

 

[DISTORT6]

Would maple normally be that dark though?

Yes. Maple varies from looking almost bleached white all the way to what you have on the darker side.
It could even be some type of tint in the topcoat. I don't think so on yours since it's a solid finish.

 

[d^rren]

Just really dark, lower grade maple.

 

[JJDon]

I actually checked the MODCAT number and it has CC under it, which may suggest that it was a custom color? Even if this was a lower grade, darker piece of maple, I don't think I've ever seen another PRS core with such a dark faux binding. If someone has pics of another, I'd be interested in seeing them. But on a core, it kind of makes sense that this may have been a custom color and they stained it a darker color.

 

[dogrocketp]

Darker doesn’t mean lower grade. My best friend has been a cabinet maker his whole life and that’s from his mouth. I had to ask him. I don’t know where you got that from. I also prefer the darker edge. I think it’s badazz.

 

[JJDon]

Darker doesn’t mean lower grade. My best friend has been a cabinet maker his whole life and that’s from his mouth. I had to ask him. I don’t know where you got that from. I also prefer the darker edge. I think it’s badazz.

I was referencing the above post that said it was probably a really dark, lower grade piece of maple. I do know that PRS has a tendency to use their less figured and nice flame tops (aka lower grade to PRS) for solid color guitar bodies.

And based on the MODCAT I just checked (Just learned about it), it looks like they may have darkened the color at the factory for a custom color.

 

[theDeepender]

Darker doesn’t mean lower grade. My best friend has been a cabinet maker his whole life and that’s from his mouth. I had to ask him. I don’t know where you got that from. I also prefer the darker edge. I think it’s badazz.

I’m with you.
When I see really light binding I keep thinking about cheap plastic binding I’ve seen on some guitars.

 

[RC Mike]

On to the important thing. What’s the bridge pickup? 59/09?

 

[dogrocketp]

The important thing for me is that more highly figured maple doesn’t produce better tone. While it may be aesthetically considered “lower grade”, it certainly isn’t sonically lower grade. All I care about is how does it sound.

 

[bodia]

It may be stained that color because of the finish they used on the black. The others that you showed appear to have black backs.

 

[xxxadixxx]

They only time I really see maple with type of hue is when working with ambrosia maple (building furniture is my other hobby), which is not something I would expect to be used for a guitar top as it also has streaking and bug holes. Sometimes hard maple might have that type of color after a lot of sun exposure. I suspect it is the lacquer, which would give the maple that type of color. For comparison (as requested by the OP), here are my 594's in natural light: NOTE: the only real difference on the binding is in the amount of figure and not really the shade.

For reference, the production years are in order: 2018, 2021, 2018, 2018, 2022, 2021, 2023

 

[JJDon]

On to the important thing. What’s the bridge pickup? 59/09?

I installed Tremonti's in the neck and bridge, but this pic is from a few days ago. I actually just switched back to the stock pickups. I don't like the Tremonti neck at all, but I like the bridge. I plan on selling the neck, but I'm contemplating re-installing the bridge. I do like the 58/15 LT cleans though.

It may be stained that color because of the finish they used on the black. The others that you showed appear to have black backs.

I actually think it was. I checked the MODCAT sticker on the case, and it had CC on it, which I think means custom color. There's a good chance they stained the side of it to be darker because I can't see any lines or figuring on the faux natural binding. I have 2 other black gloss PRS, and I can see all the figuring and lines of the wood on those.

 

[JJDon]

They only time I really see maple with type of hue is when working with ambrosia maple (building furniture is my other hobby), which is not something I would expect to be used for a guitar top as it also has streaking and bug holes. Sometimes hard maple might have that type of color after a lot of sun exposure. I suspect it is the lacquer, which would give the maple that type of color. For comparison (as requested by the OP), here are my 594's in natural light: NOTE: the only real difference on the binding is in the amount of figure and not really the shade.

For reference, the production years are in order: 2018, 2021, 2018, 2018, 2022, 2021, 2023

I think it is probably a lacquer. In all of your photos, the natural wood binding is very light. I also checked the natural wood binding on my two other black PRS and they both look like yours (2015 and a 2022 Custom Floyd 24). First two are the Custom 24s. The last pic is one of the Custom 24s and 594.

 

[d^rren]

If I’m spraying translucent colours or dyeing, I want the wood to be as bright white and neutral as possible. Same as if I’m doing the “edge reveal” binding like this. A top this dark should have been used for a completely opaque finish, or a wrap burst. I like the visual contrast, and the body maple reveal being significantly darker than the neck binding is not a great look, in my opinion.

 

[aamefford]

I dig the darker body binding. It looks killer.

 

[JJDon]

A top this dark should have been used for a completely opaque finish, or a wrap burst. I like the visual contrast, and the body maple reveal being significantly darker than the neck binding is not a great look, in my opinion.

That's why I think it was probably a custom color with the binding being stained and not the actual color of the maple under it. I don't see any way PRS QC would have signed off on the body edge being this dark on an opaque finish. I've yet to also see another binding on another PRS this dark. If anyone has one, please post it as I'm interested. I agree, the contract between the body binding and neck binding looks off, which is why I'll probably reach out to PRS PTC to see what they can do with it. I kind of light it, but would prefer the brighter, natural color of the maple. Wouldnt be as much of a visual problem if the neck didnt have binding. I imagine it would have to be a complete refinish to remove the stain on the binding? Or is it possible to just remove the staining on the binding?

 

[show_a_little_faith]

That's why I think it was probably a custom color with the binding being stained and not the actual color of the maple under it.

Pull the pickups and see what the edges of the Maple looks like in the cavaties

 

[DISTORT6]

Pull the pickups and see what the edges of the Maple looks like in the cavaties