Comments on: Vintage Gretsch Country Gentleman – Binding Repair and Restoration

By: Kenny

Kenny — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:47:50 +0000

Thanks, Steve. I had checked at Stew-Mac and did not see anything specific to Gretsch. I have actually reglued little pieces of neck binding, using as little Elmer’s as possible. This is a great guitar: just needs some help…a little would make it playable; a lot (like new frets, binding, TV Jonses, new tone caps,etc.) would make it a fab guitar. For now, it stays in the case. I will email some pitchers (Cubbies, of course–no Zambrano, tho) so you can see what we be tawkin about! Thanks. Kenny Lee

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:07:06 +0000

Kenny,
The binding material is available through Stewart Macdonald and other suppliers. But unless you have done it before with professional guidance, I absolutely do not recommend that you try to do this yourself. There are countless ways to ruin that guitar or even hurt yourself doing this work. Truly. The better news is that we often do not have to remove large areas of binding. Our preference when possible is to patch the broken and crumbled areas and use touch-up to blend in the appearance. If you can send us photos to info@chicagofretworks.com , we can give you an estimate. Otherwise I would advocate playing a different guitar and leaving this one alone until it can be properly repaired.

Steve

By: Kenny Lee Norton

Kenny Lee Norton — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:57:21 +0000

Howdy! Beautiful work on this CG body binding. I have a ‘71 that looks like someone took a Zippo to it, and the neck binding is just plain gone in spots…makes it hard to play, ya know? I am retired and cannot afford to have this worked on by people who know what they are doing! Do you guys sell just the neck binding; if so, how much, and (don’t laugh) will Elmers’ Carpenter’s glue work okay? I have some experience with that. Thanks! Kenny Lee

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:56:31 +0000

Hi Paul,
The final cost of this kind of repair varies because sometimes we have to actually replace strips of binding (like this one) and other times we can do a less invasive patching and touch-up. It depends on how much of the binding has crumbled off. We have also found that a guitar of this age frequently is asking for other work like new frets. The binding work itself has probably ranged from $350-600.

By: Paul Pisula

Paul Pisula — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 01:15:48 +0000

How much does it cost to replace the binding on a 1970’s Gretch Country Gentleman. The main Body needs replacing but the neck & stock are good. Paul

By: Dan

Dan — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:58:59 +0000

I’m sending my vintage Gretsch Country Gentleman to Dan and Steve to replace the binding and touch up the finish…..I’ll let you know how it turns out. Aloha

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:50:05 +0000

I confess I just skipped to the last photo to admire the always stellar handiwork — and one of the best-looking guitars ever made. Country Jinnilmin!

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:10:44 +0000

We did this repair with modern binding and acetone-based Sigment cement. Dan touched it up with ambered lacquer to give an uneven and more natural appearance; more white looking here, more amber looking there.

Thanks for checking out the site!

By: chris

chris — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:46:03 +0000

If I may ask, what type of binding did you use? Modern ABS type or vintage style celluloid? Also, what sort of glue?

Thanks! Great website, I check it weekly!