Double Bass Refinished Basses

[anightintunisia]

I recently bought a 1920's czech flatback that clearly had a refinish at some point in it's life. It has some repaired cracks, but what are some reasons to refinish a whole bass? Does refinishing an instrument hurt the tone? Do people take off the new refinish?

 

[neilG]

You'd refinish a bass if enough of the original finish was so damaged that touch-ups weren't feasible, but usually not on a historic or pedigreed instrument. A good luthier can make almost any varnish damage disappear, or nearly so.