the finish on my Carvin / kiesel bass

If you think you'd prefer a glossy finish and think you'd ever want to sell it I would have a professional spray it on.

If you think this is a forever bass for you then you could do it yourself, or use some wipe-on poly.

 

I’d leave it alone. It’s very unique looking.
I like it.
Nevertheless it’s yours.
Who is anybody to tell you what to do.
I’ve ruined many items by improving the look before.
They’re not making the Carvin brand per say anymore so you could ruin a relic.

 

If to just too bare for you I would look into one of the oil rubs for a different look.
I like wood grain myself.

 

I’m actually trying to undo the results of what you are suggesting. This ‘88 Carvin LB90 Koa had a finish applied somewhere along the way and the result was unfortunate (horizontal cracks in the finish).

If you want to add a finish to it, I agree; unless you are an accomplished woodworker, have a pro do it.

(BTW, I am having a pro do the refinish on this one, as I want it to be a long-term-for-me bass)

 

It comes down to individual taste. I like matt finishes too and think your bass looks good as is. I actually also have a similarly styled bass with a walnut top and maple board which to me is quite sharp looking.

 

Personally I'd leave it alone, but if you must, look into applying Tru-Oil. It's very simple to use and hard to screw up.

 

We're talking about a Carvin here. If the plan is to sell it, the cost of a pro-refinish is already pushing the limits of what it will sell for.

 

Is this a factory finish or something someone did on their own?

Is it clear poly satin or an oil rub?

*Also, your pics are REALLY yellow. Can you try taking some shots with better white balance?

 

I've always liked these thin matte natural finishes on basses. If you plan to hold on to this one though, nothing wrong with having it refinished in gloss

 

sounds like you're bored with your ax. you may want to take it to the woodshed, a bunch, and then decide...after talking it over with the object of your affection. good luck!

 

Kiesel matte finishes are supposedly the same as their gloss, just not buffed. I would try auto polish and maybe compound if gloss is your only goal.

 

Are these oil finished? Wouldn't you have to sand, seal, then apply poly?

If it was me, I'd lightly sand it, give it a naptha wash, then apply a few coats of Tung oil. That, after a while, buffs up into a light gloss.

 

I would verify with Keisel first, but if it can be simply polished out, that would be the best option.

 

Most Kiesel matte finishes are poly, but yes they do offer an oil finish option -- I should have mentioned that in my post, you should indeed verify which one you have, perhaps with bit of polish in an inconspicuous area.

 

They only do 3 coats for Tung Oil. It should be obvious, if its oiled from the factory. But I'm wondering if this was a project bass and not a complete build from the factory. Its an older build, as they stopped using that bridge around 2010. And I don't think they were finishing ash like that, back then, from the factory. I could be wrong, however.

 

i am still learning on the finishing end of things, but my gut tells me the finish never bonded to the bass and only to itself?
the more i paint (houses or basses or whatever), the more i realize most of the hard/important work is done in the prep phase and any skimping leads to terrible results (like all of the wallpaper they decided to paint over in my house..................)