Bound necks-yay or nay?

[And I]

i like them cosmetically. but the only bass i have with neck binding is the squier VM jazz which i think is just paint...

 

[fuzzychaos]

It depends on the bass. 70's Jazz with blocks and a bound neck...oh yeah, baby!

 

[Tom Gallo]

I prefer unbound both neck and body.

 

[phillipkregg]

I didn't care until I got a bass with a neck that had binding.

To me it feels much nicer than necks without binding, and the side dots are much more visible.

But, for me, if it's gonna have binding, it also needs to have block inlays.

 

[HamOnTheCob]

I think they look fantastic, but I've owned nearly 60 basses and never had one with binding. Not sure what that says about how I really feel. LoL

 

[pie_man_25]

Best use of plastic ever, possibly. The wood is the masterpiece; the plastic is just a thin frame.

IMO this. Binding can help break up or frame the textured look of wood grain, which can appeal to some. At any rate, I've got a Mexican fender Jazz with unbound neck, and an American deluxe Jazz v with bound neck. I really like them both, and while I could tell them apart blindfolded I'm really not sure the binding affects that.

 

[Element Zero]

I don’t dislike them. But I’ve never owned a bass that had it. Played a few over the years though. I have no preference.

 

[Derry Murbles]

To you maybe. All I see is a strip of plastic defacing a nice wooden surface.

Of course- it’s a subjective thing. We all like different flavors.

I was being a touch facetious.

 

[Nedmundo]

I think binding can look great, and I loved the bound neck on my old DiPinto Belvedere. It looked cool, even without blocks on the fretboard, and I liked the enhanced visibility of the side dots. But I don't seek it out, and I wouldn't pay extra for it on a special order.

 

[Rib 13]

Im one of those weirdos that thinks
Bound and Blocks = Jazz
Dots = Precision

...and, for some reason, I really think look awkward when switched

 

[Smooth_bass88]

It’s purely aesthetic. For that reason I’m indifferent to bound necks.

 

[Passinwind]

To you maybe. All I see is a strip of plastic defacing a nice wooden surface.

That's pretty much how I see any plastic on a wooden instrument, beyond a clear finish coat. But of course neither binding or blocks have to be plastic.

 

[TonyP-]

Something very sexy about a blocked and bound Jazz...

 

[Passinwind]

Something very sexy about a blocked and bound Jazz...

It's classic look, no doubt. Sexy...nah.

 

[Corevalay]

A maple neck with black binding and blocks is the epitome of sexy to me!

 

[Drucifer]

Doesn't really matter to me either feel-wise or aesthetically (doesn't affect the sound, either). So, carrots.

 

[Weberman]

I started my musical journey playing Les Paul guitars, so I got used to binding, and I like it.

Same here, although I ended up with no LPs, and nothing but double-cutaway-style guitars. The only two instruments I have with binding now are a Jazzmaster guitar, and a Jazz bass.

Also, I think there is a primitive part of my brain that just likes contrast.

 

[PDGood]

I proudly vote "yes" whether I know what I'm talking about or not.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

I like the look when it's done well. I usually obsess over too many imperfections on a instrument and binding / block inlays would just give me another area of OCD to deal with. It can look cartoonish sometimes, like black AND white Wingtips or a cheap Tux.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Also can make a refret a lot more expensive..

I carved this nut for my L2500 myself.
Filed a "shelf" for the overhang. Nice side effect, no glue needed sorry about the crappy pic.
Bound markerless ebony board.