Typical shrinking binding at waist of Guild flat top

[Mark Wybierala]

I've done this repair a few times on other guitars. I think I may have needlessly worked too hard. I've no camera available today but I thought that I might run this by the forum for ideas that I might not have thought of. The situation is simple. Its a Guild flat top guitar that is about 15 years old and in very good condition. The binding at the waist has shrunk pulling about 5"s of binding cleanly away from the body leaving a gap. As it has shrunk, I can assume that the binding is celluloid. I can just about stretch it back into place with my fingers and get it to seat cleanly in place.

Options:
1. Hair dryer or heat gun and try to soften it enough to regain its length.
Pros, Minimal invasive work
Cons, Unanticipated distortion of binding. Accidental burning of binding surface, adjacent finish damage. Fire
2. Cut binding and graft new binding within area of separation.
Pros, None of the worries of option 1. Most of the existing binding will cleanly lay back in place. Grafted section is small and I can probably match the width and thickness easily and achieve clean graft joints with acetone.
Cons, Matching the existing binding color and ambered finish is going to be a challenge. Potential to cause additional work from accidentally damaging the adjacent wood finish.

[John Hamlett]

Usually, it's a Martin D-35 when I have to fix that. Here's what works for me:
I usually have to carefully separate a little more length of binding from the edge of the guitar so that I can fit a couple of spacers under the binding; a couple of pieces of wood, shaped like very slim versions of the letter D. Put those spacers at the end of the separated binding, heat the binding in the center between them and stretch it into place. Because of the spacers, the binding will over-stretch slightly, and when you take the spacers out after the binding cools, the binding will fit snugly into the slot. I usually glue it back in place with Titebond, taping it down tight for drying. The Titebond will clean off of the finish with a damp rag.

[Mark Wybierala]

That, is exactly why it is good to ask for help. Its a beautifully simple thing. Thank you.