70's Gibsons

[Philip Halcomb]

I'm writing to see if anyone knows why the bindings on the 70's gibsons turns orange? I've also seen this on older guilds where it turns almost completely red. Just curious because a lot of 70's instruments are turning up for sale now... Take care..

flip...

[Michael Lewis]

Flip, is this color change on the surface or all the way through? I have seen many instruments that have turned orange because of the finish that was applied. Some clear lacquer from the 50s through the 60s and maybe later would change to orange with time. Some blonde D'Angelico guitars are a good example of this orange color change. Also, red analine dye in the color of the finish can migrate into binding causing it to have an orange or pink look. The lacquer causes the color to be on the surface, and the analine dye will go deep into the binding.

[Philip Halcomb]

Hi Michael, I'm not sure if it's all the way through. But I have a picture, look at this 70's F12 I found on ebay here below... This is a good example of what I mean. Although it sounds like your right about having to do with the finish...

[Michael Lewis]

Beside the finish possibilities, it could be the binding deteriorating. Not a pleasant thought. Or even a combination of all 3.

Is there any place the finish is chipped off the binding to expose the true color of the binding?

[Rroyd]

I have a friend who had a 70's F5 until recently, and it had a couple of dings on the binding which appeared more white-colored, so I always figured it was the finish that had turned it orange.

[Spencer]

Bought a 75 F-5 new, it was orange from the start, as I recall because of the varnish on it. When I wore some of that off on the neck, the binding there got white, or I should rather say the white binding started to show.

Spencer

[Big Joe]

The binding looks orange because of the lacquer on it. There was no varnish on them, but the tint to the lacquer did cause the binding to color. Most eras the binding is scraped back to its original color. The finish over the binding can cause it to deteriorate over time. Varnish does not affect the binding in the same way so we do leave the varnish on the binding.