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

[wraub]

...it is the internet, right?

And as we all know the number of opinions posted increases by the number of posters squared.

 

[Williethump]

Think of the earth, man, those paints last so long and look so shiny because of VOCs (Very Obnoxious Compounds).
I'd just wax it and play it. If you get it all shinyfied-if that is a word-you'll baby it and you can't baby a Fender, man.
But if you do, Seafoam is nice. And Candy Apple Red. If you can live with yourself, fellow primate earth dweller.

 

[TheGreatSealof]

Viewing your avatar from 2006, I appear to be quite a bit older than you. All things old do not need a makeover. Don't mess with it. It has had a life that should be celebrated.

 

[Acoop]

Nice pickguard so, I'd research the best colour to go with, the guard, then get a good quality nitro refinish.

 

[haggardPHUNK]

I would do it. I’d also probably choose something period correct.

 

[Clark W]

White, white, WHITE!!!!
Sorry,....just been jonesing myself for a white bass for awhile now.

But it has to be aged / yellowed a little bit. I don't have the know how on how to do it, but maybe someone in the Luthier's corner would.

 

[DavC]

finish sanding it smoother-erer ... then oil it up and be done ...!! i like to see stringed instrument's in the wood color they are ..!! = wood

 

[Jim Carr]

Yeah the neck on this is pretty stellar. Thanks!

I had my 1955 P-bass refinished because it had already been refinished, stripped, and refinished again.
RS Guitarworks did the nitro, aging, and resto work, and it came out just as I had hoped.

Check this thread for details: A (vintage) 1955 Classic P-bass Reborn!

 

[CenTexThumper]

I like it as is. Leave it be!

 

[Doc Halo]

Congratulations on the acquisition; it looks terrific. I don't know where you live in Tennessee, but if you're in the central part of the state and you decide to refinish it, you might want to contact Guitar Mill down in Murfreesboro. They just did my '63--lightly relic'd to match the condition of the neck and hardware--and I'm really happy with the results.

 

[Jack Butler]

My birth year bass as well, only 5 weeks off from my actual birthday! No doubt what I’d do, lake placid blue refinish.

 

[Maxdusty]

From your pictures, it looks like there's a bit of color on the inner edges of the horns. I'm thinking it might have originally been a sunburst finish. Some of the custom colors available at that time, like Lake Placid Blue or the Firemist gold had matching headstocks. The standard jazz at that time was the shaded sunburst finish from the looks of it which had the natural headstock. Blond and custom colors were offered at a slightly higher price.
The finish probably wore off in spots and the previous owner probably ended up sanding it and maybe staining the wood?

Being that the original finish is gone, I don't think it's going to hurt to re-finish it in a color of your choosing.

Here's the 1969 Fender catalog.
1969 Fender catalog - page 7 - Fender solid body bass guitars, specifications >> Vintage Guitar and Bass

 

[5StringBlues]

 

[Bassist30]

I say leave it the way it is. Its a 69, it deserves to breath.

 

[stuntbass77]

White, white, WHITE!!!!
Sorry,....just been jonesing myself for a white bass for awhile now.

Yes white but I would do an antique white with a matching guard, 2nd and third would be natural or burst. Either way nice score , congrats !!!!!

 

[2F/2F]

I would leave it as is. No professional of which I am aware does a proper vintage-accurate AUC ("poly") restoration finish. Everyone I've spoken to who does restos focuses on nitro only (even when the original finish should be acrylic lacquer or AUC), and if they are willing to do it in urethane, it's the modern stuff, which is bulletproof compared to the stuff Fender used in the '70s. If you aren't going to go vintage accurate with the refin, and you like the way it looks, then you shouldn't bother IMO. One day, when it's worth a lot more, a proper refin might be worth it, and then you won't have to strip off whatever you do now.

That said, bursts back then were nitro color coats with poly clear over them. Not as difficult to find someone able to do that...though the old style of less durable poly that Fender used is still something I've been unable to pin down in my [admittedly limited] research.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I would play it awhile 1st....then IF you really love the bass, choose whatever...However, leaving it 'as is' definitely shows the bass in naked form and gives a potential next buyer a chance to see what has been done to the bass, if anything, then that buyer could choose to do whatever they want at a reduced price.

These kinds of guitars in general (stripped finish only) are in huge demand and once you paint over it you MUST have detailed photos of the bass before the re-fin or there is no way one can tell what was covered up with solid color.

Gibsons are the worst at covering up repairs with solid paint but still.....think very carefully and play it some length before deciding.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

I would leave it as is. No professional of which I am aware does a proper vintage-accurate AUC ("poly") restoration finish. Everyone I've spoken to who does restos focuses on nitro only (even when the original finish should be acrylic lacquer). If you aren't going to go vintage accurate with the refin, and you like the way it looks, then you shouldn't bother IMO.

Yea....that was the case with my 72 Musicmaster bass that was stripped paint only.

I took my time and did it myself with RustOleum 'Pro enamel black'...came out great with little cost and i donated the bass to a young blues/soul bassist on Vizztone and she loves it.

 

[bozha]

Since it's from sixties, I would go wild with some british racing green or copper penny paint job. Quite era correct, yet pretty unique.

 

[kerrycares]

I’d paint it Evening Orchid!