How can I get a bass refinished (cost?)

jamiefoxer · #1 11-15-2009, 08:42 AM

Guys,

I stumbled upon this link

http://www.rondomusic.com/hxb406gl2ts.html

I absolutely loved the Sunburst finish that they got on this one...perfect balance between black and orange...

Only problem is that I already have 3 basses, a 5 stringer, a 6-stringer, and a 6-string fretless (an HXB-406), and all of them had their electronics replaced to Bartolini Classics. i've spent enough money on the basses and wouldn't want to add another to the collection just for show. Would it be cheaper to ask someone to paint my 6-stringer (Ibanez SR506...looks like this - http://www.ibanezregister.com/images...t-97.jpg)...or to buy the other bass at $300.00 and install new pickups ($400.00 more for labor, parts).

If someone here thinks they can paint my Ibanez to look EXACTLY like that Brice Sunburst HXB, I'll take offers from people and their prices, consider them, and send out my bass with a money order to pay for the painting and shipping.

lethargytartare · #2 11-15-2009, 03:20 PM

Here's one site's price list. Seems about what I've seen elsewhere.

http://simscustomshop.com/subsitefive/page5.html

greenbass · #3 11-15-2009, 03:24 PM

www.forresterkustoms.com

Check with Mike Forrester he is very reasonable and does great work.

jamiefoxer · #4 11-16-2009, 05:53 AM

hmmm...at those prices...it just makes more sense to buy the entire bass for $285.00 at Brice. It's a beauty though...purely a luxury item for me, as I already have 3 gig-worthy/studio-worthy basses.

I told myself I'd never be one of those "I have 9 basses" types...and here I am...about to buy a 4th electric bass (also have a Palatino upright).

lethargytartare · #5 11-16-2009, 08:35 AM

It's a shame, but a good paint job is so labor intensive there just doesn't seem to be anywhere costs can be trimmed. And a scrimping on the labor or cutting corners in the process must just jeopardize the final product too much. And there's virtually no resale value -- I see guys in this area trying to bump the value of their guitars 150-200 because of the paint job...never works.

I painted the headstock of a guitar, and went through the full process as described by Guitar Re-Ranch. Considering it was a 6" by 4" space, it took a LONG time, and I loved the result, but (a) I realized there was no way I'd do a whole guitar! and (b) I felt the going rate at pro shops was justified.

You can also try to get a body you like, swap the parts from one of your main basses, and then sell off the remaining parts -- at the end of the day you might save a bit...

Pilgrim · #6 11-16-2009, 12:06 PM

Unless you do the refin yourself (and it's not that hard) it makes no financial sense to refin a bass that's worth less than $1000. Otherwise you will spend more than the bass is worth on a decent refin job. It takes many hours to do it right, and that time has to be paid for.