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NBD - 1969 Fender Jazz! (Should I refinish?)

Shoud I refinish?

  • Total voters
    456
#41
3 questions-

How does it sound?

Do you plan to keep it a long time, or would you be more likely to flip it?

Is it meant to be a show horse, or a work horse?



'twere mine, I'd probably leave it, as a player I could thrash on (as needed) with minimal concern for finish issues is worth more to me than a bass I may feel like I have to baby a bit. The value damage is done, and the player value exceeds the value/cost of the refin, to me.

But, it's your bass now. ;) Enjoy.
 
#42
herndonbassist said:
I voted for the refin. With the fact that the horns were sanded, I'd def get it relic'd so that it would make more sense (with the finish being completely gone where it was sanded down). Now... I'd take the refin one step further, and have it painted with a standard finish (3tsb) , then refinished again in a color that wasn't offered, but with the original finish showing through in spots. IMHO I would want to point to the fact that it was refin'd as a character trait.

Oh and for reference, this bass is 2 years and a month (or so) older than me. I am currently hunting for a '71 in a similar condition.
Click to expand...
I agree, with the way the finish was sanded off relic'd does make the most sense.
 
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#44
a high quality refin to a factory-correct color would be so cool.

or whatever color you like is fine as well.

it does look a bit dull as is. kinda cool, in a 1969 sort of way. but if you are thinking about it and don't mind spending the money on it, i'd say go for it.
 
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#45
wraub said:
3 questions-

How does it sound?

Do you plan to keep it a long time, or would you be more likely to flip it?

Is it meant to be a show horse, or a work horse?



'twere mine, I'd probably leave it, as a player I could thrash on (as needed) with minimal concern for finish issues is worth more to me than a bass I may feel like I have to baby a bit. The value damage is done, and the player value exceeds the value/cost of the refin, to me.

But, it's your bass now. ;) Enjoy.
Click to expand...
Sounds and plays great. Unless my financial position changes for the worse, it's staying. I will use it live but a little worried about how bare the wood is. If it does get refinished, it will still get played.
 
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#46
Spend some time reading through this. It's for a long time been the best online source for Fender finish information (thus it looking like web 1.0). But there really is some great info to be found if you go through it:

Vintage Guitars Info - Fender custom color finishes on vintage Fender guitars

If you want to refin reasonably 'legit' or be inspired by some of the finishes and choices that have been offered by Fender in the past.
 
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#48
BurningSkies said:
Spend some time reading through this. It's for a long time been the best online source for Fender finish information (thus it looking like web 1.0). But there really is some great info to be found if you go through it:

Vintage Guitars Info - Fender custom color finishes on vintage Fender guitars

If you want to refin reasonably 'legit' or be inspired by some of the finishes and choices that have been offered by Fender in the past.
Click to expand...

Do Fender Serial Numbers provide any clues about what the original finish may have been in 1969?
 
#54
imdkoz said:
I'm sure most of you saw this hit the classifieds mid June. Pretty much all original 69 Jazz with the finish sanded off. I was in the process of making a deal on this when the seller said another TB'er thought it was his old bass. Not going to get in the way of that, are we? But as luck would have it, it wasn't so I made a deal with the new owner and here we are. :)

I love everything about the bass, especially since it's a birth year bass and one I could actually afford. The only "issue" I have is when the finish was sanded off they rounded the horns, not crazy but enough to notice. It currently sits with what I would assume is an almost worn off nitro/bare wood condition. The question is should I refinish it? I like the way it looks, but something in the back of my mind says it should be.

Anyway. Big thanks to @smcgov and @sonicyogi for an easy buy! View attachment 3887909 View attachment 3887908 View attachment 3887910 View attachment 3887908 View attachment 3887909 View attachment 3887910
Click to expand...
Great bass! If you can find the original color, I would paint it that!:thumbsup:
 
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#55
imdkoz said:
I'm sure most of you saw this hit the classifieds mid June. Pretty much all original 69 Jazz with the finish sanded off. I was in the process of making a deal on this when the seller said another TB'er thought it was his old bass. Not going to get in the way of that, are we? But as luck would have it, it wasn't so I made a deal with the new owner and here we are. :)

I love everything about the bass, especially since it's a birth year bass and one I could actually afford. The only "issue" I have is when the finish was sanded off they rounded the horns, not crazy but enough to notice. It currently sits with what I would assume is an almost worn off nitro/bare wood condition. The question is should I refinish it? I like the way it looks, but something in the back of my mind says it should be.

Anyway. Big thanks to @smcgov and @sonicyogi for an easy buy! View attachment 3887909 View attachment 3887908 View attachment 3887910 View attachment 3887908 View attachment 3887909 View attachment 3887910
Click to expand...
A beaut!
 
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#56
Spectre Gunner said:
Do Fender Serial Numbers provide any clues about what the original finish may have been in 1969?
Click to expand...

I've never seen suggestion that it's backwards trackable like that. Since most often the SN plates were picked randomly from a box and assembled, etc.. The the only way I can figure you could reverse engineer is to track by invoice to retailers, and I also don't think that Fender was ever that great about holding those kind of documents or if they have 'em being able to sift/sort/search those.
 
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#57
imdkoz said:
I'm sure most of you saw this hit the classifieds mid June. Pretty much all original 69 Jazz with the finish sanded off. I was in the process of making a deal on this when the seller said another TB'er thought it was his old bass. Not going to get in the way of that, are we? But as luck would have it, it wasn't so I made a deal with the new owner and here we are. :)

I love everything about the bass, especially since it's a birth year bass and one I could actually afford. The only "issue" I have is when the finish was sanded off they rounded the horns, not crazy but enough to notice. It currently sits with what I would assume is an almost worn off nitro/bare wood condition. The question is should I refinish it? I like the way it looks, but something in the back of my mind says it should be.

Anyway. Big thanks to @smcgov and @sonicyogi for an easy buy! View attachment 3887909 View attachment 3887908 View attachment 3887910 View attachment 3887908 View attachment 3887909 View attachment 3887910
Click to expand...
If it were me, I'd try to find out what the original finish was and send it to a pro guy to redo that. I don'tr know anything about resale values, but in my head, it could only help in that regard. Otherwise, I need a butterscotch or cream, so I'd do that. Good luck!
 
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