Blocks/binding worth the extra cost?

[spacecadet]

So I'm about to pull the trigger on my first (hopefully not last) Jazzmaster.  In the interests of saving money, I'll be going CIJ (new, not through Ebay).  Still, I *might* be able to stretch things a bit and spring for blocks and binding.  I think I understand the advantages of binding, but are the blocks purely cosmetic?  Is it really worth paying approximately 20% more for these things?

I think I actually prefer the look of dots, but I'd rather have the binding than not.  I also wonder if the b&b models might hold their value a little better in the future (I probably won't ever sell, but you never know - someday I might go vintage).  I don't see Japanese b&b models come up for sale that often.  But I'm just not sure if it's worth putting off some of the extras I was gonna get to go with the guitar for a while just for the b&b.

Thanks...

[DB]

Tough question.  I love the look of blocks and bindings, but as you point out you pay more.  The hidden costs are maintenance, particularly with binding.  Many new guitars, particularly those with ebony boards (not many Fenders though), have the board shrink leaving the fret ends sticking out. I've even seen this to a small degree with rosewood and similar boards.  Note that I live in the Colorado Rockies, and the dry cold climate here doesnt' help the situations.  The board shrinkage means you'll need a fret dressing, not in my mind a do-it-yourself project.  Binding on the edges of the fingerboard only complicates the process.  I've had guitars with ebony boards where the shrinkage was enough that it was pushing the binding away from the board.  Yes, it can be repaired, and a fret dressing is about $75 in my area for pro work.

At the end of the day, I'll still opt for blocks and binding and pay what I need to for maintenance.

DB

[berlinbetty]

  Are you aware of someone selling a JM with a b&b neck?  Because I've been trying like hell to find one.  You sound like you know where you can get one and are just trying to make up your mind.  There was someone selling them on eBay as "JM66B-106" for most of April, but the last auction ended on Sunday and they didn't relist them.  I was waiting for my tax refund to come back before "pulling the trigger" on mine but, as with the last time I had an opportunity to get a b&b JM, I waited too long...


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

[spacecadet]

See the links below... JM66B-106 is the real Japanese model # of the b/b neck model, so if you do a Google search you will come up with even more than this.

Still trying to decide!  I think my real question boils down to whether these things serve any useful purpose or if they're just for looks.  I'm a total newbie, as you can tell, and I haven't been able to find any real info on the net as to why these features are so desirable.

Here are some links.  First one is a store that sometimes sells on Ebay so I know they ship overseas:

http://www.stringnet.co.jp/site_new/JM66B-106.p.html
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/sakuragk/575645/575649/575836/
http://www.rockinn.co.jp/shopping/guita ... 6_3ts.html

I am not 100% sure all these stores actually have stock or that they all ship overseas, but the first site definitely does and I'm actually pretty sure they all do.

[The Baron]

Spacecadet, i am a newbie Jazzmaster owner. In fact I;m still waiting for delivery from Ishibashi.

In my opinion, I went with the blocks and binding beacsue I like the looks of it.
2nd, I would not pay the inflated prices on Ebay when all someone is doing is buying from Ishibashi
at decent prices and reselling trying to make a buck.

If you look at past sales, you can get a new one for less money than Ebay.

I dont care about the price. If it something I want and looks good, I buy it. I'm not worried about resale value.

I'm not sure of the difference in price between nlocks and not, but since Fender US arent making them and Japan
is, thats another reson why I went with it.

By the way, I chose Candy Apple Red. If they ever do a Lake Placid Blue with Band B, I will get that as well.

Ishibashi should be shipping most everywhere. Just ask!

Good luck,

Dan

[berlinbetty]

  You people are braver than I am.  I look at those Japanese websites and I can't make heads or tails of them.  And then there're people that say they don't ship overseas and then other people that say they do...  I liked the idea of buying one off of eBay (from the link in my last post) because it's basically idiot-proof and, frankly, I'm an idiot!
 

[spacecadet]

  You people are braver than I am.  I look at those Japanese websites and I can't make heads or tails of them.  And then there're people that say they don't ship overseas and then other people that say they do... 

Well, my first link above actually *is* the store in the Ebay link you posted.  That's how I found them originally - they had another auction going for the non-b/b model that had a link to their store in it.  Their other auctions all omit that link for some reason - I think maybe Ebay doesn't allow it (to prevent side deals).

So they definitely ship here.  Maybe you want to just email them; they obviously speak some English.

I'm lucky in that my wife is native Japanese, so she'll be helping me order from wherever I end up ordering from.  If I get the non-b/b, I'll probably order from Ishibashi.  But they don't seem to have the b/b models anymore.

Anyway, I'm hijacking my own thread - if anyone else wants to answer my original question, please do!

[Taylorplayer]

My opinion is that they are cooler looking but functionality is no difference.

In my home climate ebony shrinks considerably less than rosewood. Gibson Les Pauls are VERY VERY bad for it here, to keep your binding uncracked by frets you have to be rather retentive. 

[The Baron]

Spacecadet, Ishibashi has the B and B. I just ordered one last week.
Just ask them and they;ll tell you whats in stock.

Dan

[fenderjapan]

By the way, I chose Candy Apple Red. If they ever do a Lake Placid Blue with Band B, I will get that as well.

Ishibashi should be shipping most everywhere. Just ask!

Good luck,

Dan

They make Lake Placid Blue with b+b already! but only jaguar   ::)
http://rockinn.co.jp/shopping/guitar/fe ... 8_olb.html

[fourmations]

hey

i also got a B & B jazz a couple of weeks ago from ishibashi



just email them as everyone says, the site is browsable in english
but a bit painful all right.

the blocks are sweet, i got a sunburst but also like the vintage white
with B & Bs, really nice

g'luck

4

[chrisjedijane]

you're right, the B+B's are great

[spacecadet]

you're right, the B+B's are great

Does the binding actually help in comfort in some way?  Or neck stability?

If it really is all just cosmetic, I'll probably just save my money and go for the dots.

[Tweez]

I personally think Blocks+Binding only looks good on a Sunburst Jaguar or Jazzmaster, but anything looks great with Dots+Binding.

[The Baron]

Well, my new baby is home! I tarrived safely at 7:30 this evenign and weight is but surprisingly light.
I've played heavier tele's.

In case you hadnt read my post above, its a car 66 reissue with b&b with matchign headstock.

Build quality is 100%.

Absoutely gourgeous.

Ishibashi gave me a winner.


Dan