Acceptable in a martin

sunshinewelly

Just took delivery of my Om18 and this is on the binding. Its odd as my cheap Prs AE50 was immaculate



https://i.imgur.com/MvvGu2P.jpg

sunshinewelly

http://imgur.com/a/cYX2KbL

Brize

The white glue marks?

Brize

You're not referring to the red marks, are you? If so, they're the tortoiseshell and are supposed to be there!

prlgmnr

What is "on" the binding? Is this like one of those puzzle pictures and if I stare at it for long enough it's going to turn out Jimmy Saville's face was there the whole time?

sunshinewelly

Yes the red marks through the binding. They are only present in that one area. What is tortoiseshell 

Brize

Some tortoiseshell is more characterful than others - see the picture below, for example.

In any event, what you're pointing out is a feature, not a flaw.

prlgmnr

Many faux tortoises died to create that binding.

Andy79

Is this a wind-up

sunshinewelly

Not a wind up. Its only on one part of binding and have never seen it before on another guitar. Apologies 

Brize

sunshinewelly said:

Not a wind up. Its only on one part of binding and have never seen it before on another guitar. Apologies 

I have an OM-21 where it's only on one area of the binding.

prlgmnr

Andy79 said:

Is this a wind-up

more of a bind-up

boogieman

Mine’s got a couple of small reddish marks on the binding but they’re nowhere near as prominent as yours. 

danishbacon

Mine has a couple here and there and they are more pronounced when using the flash on my camera. 

I suppose it’s a random affair, the nature of tortoiseshell. 

danishbacon

How are you finding the guitar’s tone and playability?

birtner

I think it looks cool and if you like how it plays.....

GTC

The official Martin spec describes the binding for this model as "faux tortoise" - which has a mottled orangey appearance. As others have said, it is a feature and not a flaw.

The sunburst equivalent has plain black binding.

Brize

sunshinewelly said:

Not a wind up. Its only on one part of binding and have never seen it before on another guitar. Apologies 

Accepted. But, in honour of this thread, you should change your username to sunshinewally.

sunshinewelly

Hopefully this thread will die and quietly be forgotten 

maltingsaudio

Just change the thread title to this is acceptable in a Martin

prlgmnr

Or to "what's a tortoise?"