Should I refin an old Fender in original colour?

[molan]

So I've been looking at a pair of old Fenders in need of some restoration and thought I'd ask for some thoughts from the BC massive about colour choices

One is a '64 P and the other a '71 J.

Both have been stripped back to natural wood, one looks decent but the other has a nasty poly finish over the top of the natural stain.

Based on some colour remnants on each bass it looks like both were originally Olympic White.

I'd been thinking of some Fender pastel colors like Sonic or Daphne Blue, Fiesta Red, Seafoam Green etc.

However the painter I spoke to thought that if I was restoring them then I ought to consider trying to get them back to their original finish.

I don't have anything against Oly White but not sure I'd want to go for two old basses in the same colour.

So - what does everyone think?

[Evil Undead]

I'd love a p and a j both in oly white! Both with tort pickguards

But, they're your basses, not mine, and not his! You must do what you will be happiest with.

Edited July 14, 2011 by Evil Undead

[bh2]

Sonic blue is my fave fender colour... up to you of course!

[Clarky]

As they will be re-fins whatever colour you choose, it makes no difference whether you go original colour or not IMHO. Forget that they were both oly white and go for whatever colours you like best. I vote for a fiesta red P (a la Pino) and a sonic blue or seafoam green J

[franzbassist]

I agree with the above, apart from colour choice; I'd do Oly white for the P and Burgundy Mist for the J!

[gareth]

I agree with the above comments

When you have them refisnished, get the guy to preserve any original markings on the bass in the neck pocket (particularly any paint sticks, etc), pup and control cavities by NOT spraying over these areas - get him to put masking tape over these areas - just IMHO

[waynepunkdude]

I was in between Sonic Blue and Seafoam, I went with sonic and then realised I prefered Seafoam so I have just refined it again

[molan]

[quote name='Clarky' post='1304076' date='Jul 14 2011, 10:14 PM']As they will be re-fins whatever colour you choose, it makes no difference whether you go original colour or not IMHO. Forget that they were both oly white and go for whatever colours you like best. I vote for a fiesta red P (a la Pino) and a sonic blue or seafoam green J [/quote]

Ah Clarky, you know me too well, that's exactly the combination I'd first thought of!

I have to admit that Oly White with a tort guard on a J is a really nice combo as well (and it has the original tort guard already).

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='Clarky' post='1304076' date='Jul 14 2011, 10:14 PM']As they will be re-fins whatever colour you choose, it makes no difference whether you go original colour or not IMHO. Forget that they were both oly white and go for whatever colours you like best. I vote for a fiesta red P (a la Pino) and a sonic blue or seafoam green J [/quote]


+1 Go for the colour you like best. I did the exact same thing with my 78p recently; it was originally white but stripped when I bought it - I researched colours available at the time and ended up painting it Capri Orange! No regrets.
(If interested, the pre and post facelift pics are in the first two links of my sig)


For yours, I'm a big fan of Sonic blue, especially with the covers on

Edited July 14, 2011 by Roland Rock

[gareth]

[quote name='Roland Rock' post='1304107' date='Jul 14 2011, 10:34 PM']+1 Go for the colour you like best. I did the exact same thing with my 78p recently; it was originally white but stripped when I bought it - I researched colours available at the time and ended up painting it Capri Orange! No regrets.
I'm a big fan of Sonic blue, especially with the covers on[/quote]



Ahhhhhhh - I LOVE Capri Orange

[franzbassist]

[quote name='molan' post='1304097' date='Jul 14 2011, 10:27 PM']I have to admit that Oly White with a tort guard on a J is a really nice combo as well (and it has the original tort guard already).[/quote]

Well if I'd know you had the original tort guard then I'd have said Oly White J too

[Clarky]

Surf green and tort go together rather nicely - check out this CS bass at Coda Music [url="http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_247&products_id=10037&oscsid=460f2c241b2942c6ebedce6c3b2b4d83"]http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php...bedce6c3b2b4d83[/url]

[Lozz196]

That is a very nice combination.

[SignsOfDelirium_bassist]

Go for what you want! Restoring them to original colour might give you little extra when/if you sell, but not much. Definitely worth to have 2 basses in your fav colours imo.

Personally i'd go for fiesta P with tort pg and a snoic blue J with pearloid pg

[lojo]

Just wondering if the value of these basses would be affected by refinish colour choice?

There yours and you can do in your favorite non original colour if it's what you like, but it's worth knowing

Edited July 15, 2011 by lojo

[xgsjx]

I think if it's refinished, it's no longer original (just like the stripped condition it's in) so therefore colour would have no effect on price.

I'd go for a non Fender colour. Maybe British Racing Green with a Mustard pick guard?

[BigRedX]

Some thoughts:

1. It's your bass. Do what you want with it.

2. Finish it in the colour you like best.

3. Looking at it from a resale value PoV, if having the bass refinished in the original colour would add at least the cost of the refinish to the selling price then you could always have the bass re-refinished in OW just before you sell it. Otherwise IMO the the cost of having the body refinished as a percentage of the overall value of the bass doesn't make it worthwhile, in which case it doesn't matter what colour it is. See points 1 and 2.

[chris_b]

I don't like the look of stripped Fenders. A white Jazz looks good but for me the only colour for a Precision is 3 tone sunburst.

[bubinga5]

what about Surf Green B.. or the off white of the Jazz you got from me...

[bubinga5]

[quote name='Clarky' post='1304127' date='Jul 14 2011, 09:43 PM']Surf green and tort go together rather nicely - check out this CS bass at Coda Music [url="http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php?cPath=27_247&products_id=10037&oscsid=460f2c241b2942c6ebedce6c3b2b4d83"]http://www.coda-music.com/product_info.php...bedce6c3b2b4d83[/url][/quote]
OMG thats given me inspiration.. i thought there were too many colours in that combo before.. but that looks awsmome Clarky!! thanks...

[Truckstop]

Paisley P and Seafoam Jazz I reckon!

Truckstop

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='molan' post='1304044' date='Jul 14 2011, 09:54 PM']....However the painter I spoke to thought that if I was restoring them then I ought to consider trying to get them back to their original finish.

I don't have anything against Oly White but not sure I'd want to go for two old basses in the same colour.

So - what does everyone think?[/quote]
If you are going with original hardware and 'tronics I'd tend to agree with your painter, otherwise it's open season at refin city.

[molan]

The '71J deal has just fallen through

However, the '64P is completed

I was going to get it finished over in the USA but might get it over here first & then decide. It doesn't have a pickguard so I have lots of choice!

Sunburst is probably the only option that's out as both my '63 & '71 P's are that colour already.

[4000]

[quote name='Clarky' post='1304076' date='Jul 14 2011, 10:14 PM']As they will be re-fins whatever colour you choose, it makes no difference whether you go original colour or not IMHO. Forget that they were both oly white and go for whatever colours you like best. I vote for sonic blue & seafoam green:)[/quote]

Fixed.

[Old Horse Murphy]

[quote name='molan' post='1304097' date='Jul 14 2011, 10:27 PM']Ah Clarky, you know me too well, that's exactly the combination I'd first thought of!

I have to admit that Oly White with a tort guard on a J is a really nice combo as well (and it has the original tort guard already).[/quote]

I agree with Clarky Barrie

Thats a wonderful collection of P basses you have there. I remember when i used to pop round and see your awesome collection of 5 Strings and always felt my P bass was a bit out ofnplace. Not anymore