Revisionism has a new name and it is "Jake'ism". You used to be up in arms bro how crap binding is, how it devalues a bass and "is just plastic for which wood is sacrificed". You might have conveniently forgotten, Jake, but we all have an eye on you ...
You remember well. Not devalue - so much as look cheap (the general market consencus being that it adds value, or it is a feature of deluxe top of the line instruments). BUT we were talking about body binding, which is thicker vs a thin strip like when it's a neck - doesn't bother me in the same way. And even then I always added the caveat that if it wasn't cream, but pinstripe (like my D'Angelico - actually double pinstripe) or checkerboard/tux (like a Ric) or black (like my Triumph), or tort (rare but I've seen it - Gretsch maybe?), or any other material other than plastic (dunno if anyone does that ), it's not so bad.
I also went off on how I can't stand LP Standards due to the all cream hardware (pup rings, switch tips, jack plate, poker chip etc). HATE IT. But a bound neck is fine - comes off as a contrasting pinstripe from the front, vs a large block of boring plastic.
The one exception for cream body binding is a black beauty - somehow the contrast makes it work.... though I'd still prefer something else.
Devil is in the details, bud.
