Anyone have a bass refinished recently? Who did the work?

[FSGrind]

hi everyone.

I’m thinking about having my 63 P bass and 65 Jazz bass refinished. Has anyone had this service done for them recently? Who did you use and approximately what was the cost? (If you don’t mind sharing) I emailed one place and got a quote for $2,200 for both.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi FSGrind

I’m thinking about having my 63 P bass and 65 Jazz bass refinished.

Are you sure about this?

If they still have the factory paintjob, you can lose a lot of money!

Even if they look like someone hit them with a chain!

The resale (collector) value will take a hit.

Has anyone had this service done for them recently?

Of course if someone already has sanded them off and did a terrible rattlecan job...

restoring them to original color or something from the era could be cool.

Can't help you when it comes to the price! (never did something like that)


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[fretno]

If it really needs it. MJT should get you in the ballpark. What do they run for a body these days??? 3 or 400 bucks. Aged nitro refin for that and MJT is good at it. And fairly priced imo.

 

[FSGrind]

If it really needs it. MJT should get you in the ballpark. What do they run for a body these days??? 3 or 400 bucks. Aged nitro refin for that and MJT is good at it. And fairly priced imo.

I had MJT made me a body last year and didn’t have the best experience with them.

 

[fretno]

I recall.

 

[friskinator]

If it really needs it. MJT should get you in the ballpark. What do they run for a body these days??? 3 or 400 bucks. Aged nitro refin for that and MJT is good at it. And fairly priced imo.

MJT recently quoted me 500 for a solid color refin job including stripping the original finish. Not including shipping to and from there.

$1100 per bass seems insanely high unless they’re doing a complete restoration of the entire instrument.

 

[B-Mac]

hi everyone.

I’m thinking about having my 63 P bass and 65 Jazz bass refinished. Has anyone had this service done for them recently? Who did you use and approximately what was the cost? (If you don’t mind sharing) I emailed one place and got a quote for $2,200 for both.

Not yet, but I'm set up to drop off two basses at Prana Custom Guitar and refinishing.


Prana Custom Guitars | Mountville PA
@D.A.R.K. recommended them on another post.

 

[JRMK]

If your 63 and 65 are with original finish, whatever is or isn't left of it , I can assure you the additional drop of value of both axes will exceed the cost of refinish no matter how much you pay it.

Think of it as if it costs you more than twice (refinish plus loss in value)

 

[KohanMike]

Pat Wilkins in Van Nuys, CA has been doing my bass uke finishes for years now, in my opinion, he's one of the best in the nation. He charges me about $450 to paint just the top, about $600 for more area. https://www.wilkinsguitars.com/

 

[Gervais Cote]

If your 63 and 65 are with original finish, whatever is or isn't left of it , I can assure you the additional drop of value of both axes will exceed the cost of refinish no matter how much you pay it.

Think of it as if it costs you more than twice (refinish plus loss in value)

+1 for this.
I would let any 60's Fender bass as original as possible for the look and resale value.
If you need something that looks new for whatever reason, get a Squier Classic Vibe p bass, this will still cost you less than refinishing your two basses.
All in my opinion………..

 

[Johnny Alien]

Pat Wilkins in Van Nuys, CA has been doing my bass uke finishes for years now, in my opinion, he's one of the best in the nation. He charges me about $450 to paint just the top, about $600 for more area. https://www.wilkinsguitars.com/

I have to counter that. I just used Pat Wilkins for a job and it was a less than stellar job backed up with terrible customer service. He may have been good at one time but I strongly urge people to stay away at this point.

 

[Juice Box]

I would highly recommend Joe Riggio. He is "the" go to person for a vintage Fender refinish in my opinion. He refinished my '66 Precision and it came out better than I could have hoped.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

I did my own P Bass, talked to a guy who wanted alot of money also and just did it myself. He gave me a few tips about sanding and what clear to use/refinishing with less humidity. Its pretty simple. I dunno---I bought a Stingray right after finishing it and never picked it up again. My advice is sell it and get a Stingray or get a stingray and then sell it.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Joe Riggio

 

[PolkaHero]

Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan refinished my '61 Jazz five years ago. They did a stellar job with it and only charged me around $500. Matching headstock, grafted some wood that was belt sanded removed by a previous owner, and expertly repaired a crack in the back of the headstock. Nitro finish. Highly recommended.

 

[Grinderman]

Assuming there's no original finish remaining, Joe Riggio.

 

[PolkaHero]

This is what it looked like when I first got it at an estate sale for peanuts.

 

[70spbase]

Www.Finishesbydrew.com in Las Vegas I know for a fact they use nitrocellulose.

 

[cripula]

Gord Miller, GM Vintage Restorations in Victoria BC is awesome. His vintage bursts kill.

'60

'64

and on a new Reimer

 

[Dynacord]

Just repeating what others have already said, assuming these were previously refinished poorly and wanting to get it 'right' and vintage correct, Joe Riggio or Carson Hess in the US, Gord Miller in Canada (Clive Brown and John Elliott and several others in the UK). Lay's Guitar Shop in Ohio also does good work.
Pat Wilkins does great work but no nitro (unless he's changed that recently) so I absolutely would not use him for a Fender made '68 or earlier.