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My thought was that a brand-new looking finish would look out of place with the aged lacquer on the headstock, the patina on the bridge and tuning keys, etc.
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1975 Fender Precision - considering refinishing
- Thread starter Drucifer
- Start date
Leave as is, except the pickguard. You can even find "reclic'ed" pickguards that will help it match your existing wear-and-tear (so it won't look out of place). Personally, I think the finish on your bass looks good as it is.
- Apr 20, 2009
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Thanks Todd. I do happen to own a ‘64 P, it’s all original and worth a lot more than this one. This bass would probably sell in the range of $1000-$1200 as-is.
Thank you Todd, but of all my Fender basses, the one I reach for almost every day is my stock '69 which I've had for almost 40 years. I'm pretty much set on vintage instruments. I do appreciate your offer, though.
Why would you spend hundreds on a refin that will simultaneously reduce the resale value? Unless you really intend to keep it and play it forever, which it doesn't sound like you do.
If it wasn't doing it for me I'd sell it as-is and get something I enjoyed more.
If it wasn't doing it for me I'd sell it as-is and get something I enjoyed more.
If this were my bass I would definitely have the nicks in the neck fixed, strip the finish off the neck and do an oil finish on it (the neck). If the body finish bugs you you can have it stripped and refinished for a lot less than 800.
Leave it as is. You spent years customizing that finish, and every mark tells a story. If you want to refinish something buy a used beat up no name bass and a rattle can.
You detail a lot of dislikes -- some of them (natural mojo, natural finish) things that others may actually pay a premium for.
Leave it alone and sell it.
Be aware that while you'll likely get decent $$, it probably won't be enough to get another GREAT vintage Fender P bass out of the deal - like, you won't have the $$ to buy a '65 custom color or anything like that.
For the record, my first bass was a '76 thick-skin poly Mustang in natural finish that could have been this one's baby brother. I do not for the life of me remember what could have prompted me to get a natural finish bass - I really don't dig them!
Leave it alone and sell it.
Be aware that while you'll likely get decent $$, it probably won't be enough to get another GREAT vintage Fender P bass out of the deal - like, you won't have the $$ to buy a '65 custom color or anything like that.
For the record, my first bass was a '76 thick-skin poly Mustang in natural finish that could have been this one's baby brother. I do not for the life of me remember what could have prompted me to get a natural finish bass - I really don't dig them!
I see that you don't like clear finishes to begin with, so this may not sway you. I'm a fan of transparent finishes but not the yellowed poly, so I'd vote to strip and refin in clear poly (poly matches Fender finishes from that era). No relicing beyond what it takes to get it to match the neck.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Refinish in nitro for brand new look ... like that it’s not too good looking (for me) ..
- Apr 20, 2009
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The original was black and I didn’t like it, so I went with white for the replacement back in the 80’s.
Agree with those who suggest a black layered pickguard.
Again, nice bass.
Again, nice bass.
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
I would leave it as is that finish shows the history of that bass with you.
If it were heavily modified or damaged I'd say refinish. I think it would be crazy to refinish it in this state, it's not that bad. If you refinished and sold it you'd be out the money from the paint job, as well as the much lower value from being non-original.
The only time I'd consider refinishing a bass that is now "vintage" would be if it had a bad refinish on it already. The missing cover and changed guard hurt a little, but a refin kills the value. Not sure if anyone has suggested this, but you could buy a prefinished warmoth body (not nitro, but a nice thin poly) for about 300 bucks if it is in the showcase. That's around what MJT would charge to strip and refinish your body, and then if you ever decided to sell, you still have the unmolested old body
It's your bass, but since you're asking. . .
I'm in the "don't re-finish" camp. (Don't ask me how many times I have heard my partner rue that he stripped the sunburst finish from his '63 Stratocaster. [It was only about 8 yrs old when he did it, who knew?].) For what you would pay for the re-fin, you could get parts from Warmoth and have a beautiful new bass that's exactly what you want. (It would acquire mojo quickly enough.) Look at the in-stock bass bodies on the Warmoth web site and see if something calls to you. . .
I'm in the "don't re-finish" camp. (Don't ask me how many times I have heard my partner rue that he stripped the sunburst finish from his '63 Stratocaster. [It was only about 8 yrs old when he did it, who knew?].) For what you would pay for the re-fin, you could get parts from Warmoth and have a beautiful new bass that's exactly what you want. (It would acquire mojo quickly enough.) Look at the in-stock bass bodies on the Warmoth web site and see if something calls to you. . .
