W1_Pro Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Hello Everyone, I'm looking for some advice/pointers about refinishing an Explorer bass. I bought the thing in 2004 from the states and it had an awful spray can black finish. A luthier I use, Graham Parker (who is very good if you live in SE London btw [url="http://www.grahamparker.moonfruit.com"]http://www.grahamparker.moonfruit.com[/url] ) striped it back and refinished it in clear laquer and it looked lovely. I took the bass out of it's case a couple of months ago, and noticed that the finish had 'crazed' badly. I took it back to Graham, who no longer does finishing- lots of luthier seems to hate this part of the job eh?- he very reasonably offered to refund in full the £175 he'd charged me for this, and reccomended Sims Custom shop, who came back with a price of £390 which I think is kind of expensive. I'd like to know a couple of things really: A) Is this expensive? Are Sims worth it? C) Can anyone reccomend an alternative. all advice appreciated. Many thanks chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxrossell Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 Unfortunately refinishing is one of the most pricey things to have done to a guitar. £390 does sound a little bit steep for clearcoat, though. Arun Repairs through Mike's Music will do it for around £250. [url="http://www.aruninstrumentrepairs.co.uk/"]http://www.aruninstrumentrepairs.co.uk/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 [quote name='maxrossell' post='493078' date='May 20 2009, 10:53 AM']Unfortunately refinishing is one of the most pricey things to have done to a guitar. £390 does sound a little bit steep for clearcoat, though. Arun Repairs through Mike's Music will do it for around £250. [url="http://www.aruninstrumentrepairs.co.uk/"]http://www.aruninstrumentrepairs.co.uk/[/url][/quote] Hang on a sec... Isn't an Explorer a set neck? If it is, I would say that is about right for that job. It's quite time consuming... Obviously there is the skill in spraying the polyester but the difficulty is increased at the neck join as extra care is needed to be taken to avoid excessive build up. Then of course, there is the extra difficulty associated with the flattening and buffing. If you see it as £250 for the body and £140 for the neck... you can see where the cost is coming from... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 [quote name='EBS_freak' post='493342' date='May 20 2009, 03:18 PM']Hang on a sec... Isn't an Explorer a set neck? If it is, I would say that is about right for that job. It's quite time consuming... Obviously there is the skill in spraying the polyester but the difficulty is increased at the neck join as extra care is needed to be taken to avoid excessive build up. Then of course, there is the extra difficulty associated with the flattening and buffing. If you see it as £250 for the body and £140 for the neck... you can see where the cost is coming from...[/quote] Aha. Now therin lies the rub. They are not prepared to touch the neck because it's got one of those Gibson stamped in serial numbers on the back of the headstock. Apparently it's beyond the wit of man to refinish this (nitromors anyone?). But thanks for the answers anyway. I think I'll probably go with this because it needs doing. Good to know that it's not quite as exhorbitanat as I thought! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted May 20, 2009 Author Share Posted May 20, 2009 [quote name='maxrossell' post='493078' date='May 20 2009, 10:53 AM']Unfortunately refinishing is one of the most pricey things to have done to a guitar. £390 does sound a little bit steep for clearcoat, though. Arun Repairs through Mike's Music will do it for around £250. [url="http://www.aruninstrumentrepairs.co.uk/"]http://www.aruninstrumentrepairs.co.uk/[/url][/quote] Thanks for that. I'll give them a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 (edited) Think of it like a lot of people do, "How hard can it be to spray a bit of lacquer on a bit of wood?" Then think of the work and skill and tools involved. Work. Removing or preping existing surface, ready for spraying, or, filling pores, priming, prior to spraying. Skill. As EBS Freak says, getting an even coverage of lacquer is a skilled job, too much and you have to start again. Tools. Respirator system, workable space to spray SAFELY in, equipment, polishig/buffing equipment, various blocks, cauls, etc. Work. Doing all of the above. Spraying, flattening, spraying, flatening, through all the grades when laying the lacquer, to the 600, 1200, 1800, buff, polish, it takes days to get it right. Getting a finish like flat, polished glass, is a skill worth paying for. Edited May 20, 2009 by steve-soar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted May 21, 2009 Author Share Posted May 21, 2009 Thanks for that Steve. You make a good point, refinishing is an awful lot of work I guess, and if it's done well, then it's worth paying for..... I think my central concern is that I'm not paying way over the odds for the Sims Custom shop finish, and of course my other concern is are they any good? Have you used them perchance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinson Posted May 21, 2009 Share Posted May 21, 2009 I used this guy [url="http://www.dm-guitars.co.uk/paintwork.htm"]http://www.dm-guitars.co.uk/paintwork.htm[/url] Fantastic job, and very reasonable price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted May 22, 2009 Author Share Posted May 22, 2009 Another option. This guy looks promising also. Many thanks Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted May 23, 2009 Share Posted May 23, 2009 [quote name='W1_Pro' post='494589' date='May 21 2009, 07:42 PM']Thanks for that Steve. You make a good point, refinishing is an awful lot of work I guess, and if it's done well, then it's worth paying for..... I think my central concern is that I'm not paying way over the odds for the Sims Custom shop finish, and of course my other concern is are they any good? Have you used them perchance?[/quote] I've never used Simms but I have done refinishing before for a living when I worked at KGB Music. Have you got any pics of the bass? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted May 23, 2009 Author Share Posted May 23, 2009 [quote name='steve-soar' post='495978' date='May 23 2009, 12:26 PM']I've never used Simms but I have done refinishing before for a living when I worked at KGB Music. Have you got any pics of the bass?[/quote] Not to hand, but I'll get some and post them SteveBest Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted May 25, 2009 Author Share Posted May 25, 2009 [quote name='steve-soar' post='495978' date='May 23 2009, 12:26 PM']I've never used Simms but I have done refinishing before for a living when I worked at KGB Music. Have you got any pics of the bass?[/quote] Here are a couple of pics showing the worst of it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 That's a lovely bass, so, are you going to keep it natural? I quite like all the crazing, makes it look older and sexy, bit like Helen Mirrem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1_Pro Posted May 26, 2009 Author Share Posted May 26, 2009 (edited) [quote name='steve-soar' post='497276' date='May 25 2009, 01:58 PM']That's a lovely bass, so, are you going to keep it natural? I quite like all the crazing, makes it look older and sexy, bit like Helen Mirrem. [/quote] LOL Yes definitly keep it natural, it's such a nice piece of wood. I think if you saw the whole thing.. the crazing does it no favours.. none of the luthiers/refinishers above have responded to mails, so I'm still in the same boat...I would'nt mind paying Sims prices if they'd do the back of the neck and the headstock...ho hum.. Edited May 26, 2009 by W1_Pro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 [quote name='W1_Pro' post='497965' date='May 26 2009, 01:21 PM']LOL Yes definitly keep it natural, it's such a nice piece of wood. I think if you saw the whole thing.. the crazing does it no favours.. none of the luthiers/refinishers above have responded to mails, so I'm still in the same boat...I would'nt mind paying Sims prices if they'd do the back of the neck and the headstock...ho hum..[/quote] As an idea of the finish, I believe that Simms do Sei finishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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