1975 Fender Precision - considering refinishing

[Member8675309]

Agreed.......

 

[70spbase]

I have a '75 P that I bought in the mid-80's when I was in college. It was my main gigging bass for a lot of years, and you can see that by looking at it. There are many spots on the finish where its worn through to bare wood. It's somewhat original, but no covers, and I replaced the pick guard when the original black one cracked and didn't keep the old one. The frets are in good shape and it sounds awesome, like a P-bass should. I never liked the natural finish, or the thick poly finish on the body, and it's an ash body, so it weighs 10+ pounds. There's also some nicks in the coating on the back of the neck that bug me. If I could find another vintage P that I liked better for the same price, I would sell it as-is. I am considering refinishing it, but worried that it may affect the resale, or more accurately, that I wouldn't get back the money I've put into it. It has a little sentimental value, but I could get over that pretty quickly. One advantage of a refin would be a new Spitfire tortoise shell pick guard. I would have them strip off the poly finish from the body and neck, and refinish with nitrocellulose in a solid color, and leave the back of the neck bare. I could match the existing wear with a relic finish, I would probably use MJT. Refin would probably cost something like $800-$900 all told, with the relic at the higher end and a new-looking finish at the lower end of the range.

What do you think TB?
View attachment 2932888

View attachment 2932889

View attachment 2932890

View attachment 2932892

I have a '76 exactly like yours but with the original guard of black. Cracked as well. I turned down 1700 recently and it is beat (loved) like yours. I refinish part time and I would never charge anywhere close to the prices you think. Please leave it as is.

 

[EagleMoon]

My first bass was a Fender P just like this one. Same year and everything. I refinished that thing about 5 times and it ended up back natural before I sold it. If I were to go through all that again, and times being what they are, I'd just buy a replacement body for it if I wanted a different color. Back in the early 80's there weren't the options for that like there is now.

 

[walkbassman45]

Being a person who's first brand new bass in high school was a '75, leave it alone as long as it plays.

 

[Drucifer]

Regarding resale value you already lost some resale value when you replaced the pick up and don't have the original ! so it's no longer original anyway ! refinishing it shouldn't really be a big deal!
How ever if it was me ill much rather invest that money on restoring it to its original state! I'll Find a pick up from that year restore it and leave it as is !

I didn't replace the pickup, I replaced the pick guard.

 

[Todd LaCasse]

I have a '75 P that I bought in the mid-80's when I was in college. It was my main gigging bass for a lot of years, and you can see that by looking at it. There are many spots on the finish where its worn through to bare wood. It's somewhat original, but no covers, and I replaced the pick guard when the original black one cracked and didn't keep the old one. The frets are in good shape and it sounds awesome, like a P-bass should. I never liked the natural finish, or the thick poly finish on the body, and it's an ash body, so it weighs 10+ pounds. There's also some nicks in the coating on the back of the neck that bug me. If I could find another vintage P that I liked better for the same price, I would sell it as-is. I am considering refinishing it, but worried that it may affect the resale, or more accurately, that I wouldn't get back the money I've put into it. It has a little sentimental value, but I could get over that pretty quickly. One advantage of a refin would be a new Spitfire tortoise shell pick guard. I would have them strip off the poly finish from the body and neck, and refinish with nitrocellulose in a solid color, and leave the back of the neck bare. I could match the existing wear with a relic finish, I would probably use MJT. Refin would probably cost something like $800-$900 all told, with the relic at the higher end and a new-looking finish at the lower end of the range.

What do you think TB?
View attachment 2932888

View attachment 2932889

View attachment 2932890

View attachment 2932892

Leave it as is.