Full height purfling?

[Bryan Bear]

Purflings are typically (at least I thought so) installed in a secondary rabbet that only cuts into the top wood. In some ways, that seems unnecessarily complicated to me. I just came across a video of Robbie O’Brian demoing one of the LMI binding fixtures and I noticed he used veneer the full height of the bindings as his purfling. I did this once before I “knew better.” Apparently I was just assuming the two step rabbet was the norm. I can see how it would be better if you were using a purchased purfling, shell or herringbone (or similar). I can certainly see the benefit when using a wide purfling scheme too. For just three or fewer veneer lines, is there a downside of just doing them full width? I should add that I use solid laminated linings so I should have plenty of meat under them. I just feel like the whole process would be much easier, Am I wrong?
What are you all doing?

[Barry Daniels]

It only takes a few minutes to cut an extra rabbet for the purfling, so I don't see that as an issue. But you can certainly proceed with the one rabbet approach since you are making your own purfling and using solid linings.

[Ryan Mazzocco]

I have a Guild guitar on my repair waiting list that has b/w/b plastic bindings and perflings. they are all full height like binding.

[Clay Schaeffer]

For simple purfling schemes I cut one rabbet, for herringbone and wider purfles I cut the shelf. As long as there is enough lining left to hold the top on I don't see a problem.

[Michael Lazar]

I've used full height purfling on all of my guitars over the past 32 years. That being said the most complicated I've ever used was four lines on the top and three on the back.

[Joel Nowland]

I cut a single channel with full height purflings on about 150 guitars or so and it was fine especially since I do all wood bindings & purflings. But since I started using a double cut I won't go back because it cuts so much less into the edge of the guitar and I get twice as much out of my purfling glue ups.

I did not start doing a double cut until I built my binding router machine which you don't have to have but it makes it soooo much easier and more precise to do bindings in general and especially a double cut edge.

Joel Nowland