Feel of bound fretboards

[datru]

Often I see forum members say they prefer the feel of bound fretboards. It seems that when I play I rarely even touch the binding. My thumb is more around the back (or top/back) and my palm has some space between it and the edge of the fretboard. In other words, I don't "feel" the edge, binding or not.

 

Am I doing it wrong? Do I have big hands or something? Admittedly, I'm not a very good player, so give it to me straight.

[Stoneball Jack]

I feel the binding because i play with my thumb a lot. However i very much dislike the feel of binding. So i don't really know why they like it. I don't think you're doing it wrong though. Aside from when i use my thumb i don't really notice it.

[RaVenCAD]

If binding is done right, it shouldn't feel like much of anything. It should blend right into the fretboard.

[datru]

 

If binding is done right, it shouldn't feel like much of anything. It should blend right into the fretboard.

 

 

Yes, but my point is that even if sandpaper were placed there I don't know that my hand ever really touches it.

 

I was wondering if my technique is off or if I'm missing something.

[RaVenCAD]

Answer this: Does your playing style make you happy? If yes, then you're doing it right and not missing a thing.. If no, then you need to change something.

 

I'm a thumber, and binding doesn't mean a thing to me. Binding or no binding, everything feels about the same to me.

[Mister Zero]

I think binding is more of a visual thing.

 

I just realized that both of my electrics and my acoustic have bound fretboards.

[twofoolsaminute]

When playing, I could care less about binding or not. I prefer not to have it simply because it is one more thing to go wrong.

[ubernerd]

I think a bound fretboard feels different if the fret ends are also bound.

[=JL=]

The only thing I can feel is the finish. I can't feel whether there's a white stripe under it or not.

[faberbz]

Aesthetics.

 

Was there ever a reason to have binding? Was the original intent to help keep the fingerboard, neck and frets as they should be?

[Faber]

One thing about bindings is that they often have a sharper edge along the fingeboard than unbound necks - maybe it's harder to give bindings that rolled feel?

[soundcreation]

Don't care one way or the other. I'll play anything.