Strip a badly cracked clear finish on a strat, or sell as-is?

[K-Frog]

Not sure if this is the right place or not, but here goes...

I'm not finishing expert, frankly haven't done much of it, but understand the basics and have the patience to get it done.

I have a mid-90's MIJ strat, a 70's reissue it would seem, and the clear on the natural ash body is badly cracked along with many deep dings.

I can either sell it as "well-loved" or I can strip the thing and put on another clear finish of some type (poly, oil, oil/varnish, etc).

I rally need to sand the back of the neck as well for a coupl ill-placed scratches that aren't real deep.

What am i doing to the re-sell value if I "modify" the finish v.s. leaving it battered and bruised as-is?

[aztomr]

I can't imagine a 90's MIJ strat selling for a fortune, great condition or no. My advice is to sell it as is, people tend to like beat up fenders.

[K-Frog]

Originally Posted by aztomr

I can't imagine a 90's MIJ strat selling for a fortune, great condition or no. My advice is to sell it as is, people tend to like beat up fenders.

I agree. Just trying to figure out if a little labor to refin will bring a little more resale.

I'll do the back of the neck anyway.

[Jazzdogg]

K-Frog, depending on what the existing finish is, you may not have to strip and refinish to make it look better.

[K-Frog]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

K-Frog, depending on what the existing finish is, you may not have to strip and refinish to make it look better.

Unknown thick clear finish. What do you suggest?

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by K-Frog

Unknown thick clear finish. What do you suggest?

Never having seen your bass, I'd hesitate to recommend a specific course of action. Most thick glossy finishes are very difficult to strip, whereas a nitrocellulose lacquer finish can be rejuvenated with far less effort. The good news is that thick, glossy, finishes are generally rugged and can be rubbed out to look like new with some practice.

You may want to study rubbing out a finish. Here's a link to a tutorial:

http://www.homesteadfinishingproduct...rubbingout.htm

If you decide to give it a shot, practice on the back of your bass; when you feel well-practiced, rub out the parts that show. As long as the finish is intact, and you're careful, you've got nothing to lose by experimenting on the back of your bass.

[K-Frog]

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

Never having seen your bass, I'd hesitate to recommend a specific course of action. Most thick glossy finishes are very difficult to strip, whereas a nitrocellulose lacquer finish can be rejuvenated with far less effort. The good news is that thick, glossy, finishes are generally rugged and can be rubbed out to look like new with some practice.

You may want to study rubbing out a finish. Here's a link to a tutorial:

http://www.homesteadfinishingproduct...rubbingout.htm

If you decide to give it a shot, practice on the back of your bass; when you feel well-practiced, rub out the parts that show. As long as the finish is intact, and you're careful, you've got nothing to lose by experimenting on the back of your bass.

These are bad cracks. I won't be rubbing them out