To re-finish or not re-finish?

[SICbass]

Hi All,

 

my oldest bass, both in age and years in my possesion, is a ´74 Jazz (at least it is according to the serial number) and I love it.

One of my main gigs, at least a couple of months worth per year, is an ABBA tribute. It's a really good production - good players, singers, mates.. I love it.

Back when I started doing it, I purchased one of the early Sire Jazz basses in white (ABBA, right?). It sounds fine, is very playable etc. etc. but it's not a patch on the warm, woody goodness of my ´74 Jazz.

 

So, after roughly 10 years, do I get the ´74 refinished in white for what is effectively my main gig or just keep using it at home and making do on the gig?

 

1.) Does a re-finish significantly alter the sound of a bass or is that a myth?

2.) Should a lovely instrument like that be kept at home for practice and not see battle?

 

BTW, the current "finish" which was how it was in about 1986/87 when I bought it secondhand, would be no great loss.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by SICbass

[Burns-bass]

The refinish shouldn’t impact the sound one bit.

 

Personally, I’d get it done as that finish isn’t one I’d go for.  

Guess you need to choose if you want a box-fresh new white finish which may not suit the vintage look or a retro finish. Personally I’d go for the retro finish (but I don’t know who would do it!)
 

 

[Doctor J]

Do it. You sound like you want to do it. Possibly there's an expectation you shouldn't which is weighing on you? If someone wants to have a 74 and not touch it, let them buy one. That one is yours. Do as you want with it but, most importantly, play it.

Edited 3 hours ago by Doctor J

[neepheid]

13 minutes ago, SICbass said:

So, after roughly 10 years, do I get the ´74 refinished in white for what is effectively my main gig or just keep using it at home and making do on the gig?

 

1.) Does a re-finish significantly alter the sound of a bass or is that a myth?

2.) Should a lovely instrument like that be kept at home for practice and not see battle?

 

BTW, the current "finish" which was how it was in about 1986/87 when I bought it secondhand, would be no great loss.

 

1) 100% myth.

2) Your call, but in my world, instruments are to be played - I play all my basses live, irrespective of what they are, how expensive/old they are.

 

Refinish it if you want, or play it as is, but play it.

[kwmlondon]

If it was me I'd get it refinished and play the thing in front of audiences. It would look COOL AF! 

[ezbass]

30 minutes ago, SICbass said:

1.) Does a re-finish significantly alter the sound of a bass or is that a myth?

Myth. Someone with bat like hearing will claim that they can hear a difference, but I call shenanigans.

 

31 minutes ago, SICbass said:

2.) Should a lovely instrument like that be kept at home for practice and not see battle?

Your bass, your decision. As long as it’s played and not kept in a case, it fulfills its purpose.

 

8 minutes ago, kwmlondon said:

It would look COOL AF! 

Yes, yes it would.

[Steve Browning]

Just use it as is. I can undertand the ABBA folk doing their best to look right but I would question the need for anyone else. Rutger may have wished his Jazz was the colour of yours (not far removed from his Hagstrom, by the way).

 

His was also a dot neck. Are you changing that? If not, you're not authentic. Personally, play it as it is and save yourself the money (and the time without it). I played in a very good ABBA tribue with a 75 black Jazz with pearl blocks on the maple neck. 

 

Up to you, of course, but why bother?

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Steve Browning

[Mrbigstuff]

35 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

The refinish shouldn’t impact the sound one bit.

 

Personally, I’d get it done as that finish isn’t one I’d go for.  

Guess you need to choose if you want a box-fresh new white finish which may not suit the vintage look or a retro finish. Personally I’d go for the retro finish (but I don’t know who would do it!)
 

 

I’m in the same camp. Not my favourite colour anyway and enough has been changed on it already that it won’t appeal to collectors.

[Beedster]

I'd get @d_g to do a light relic finish so that the bass retains a sense of 'well-played but generally well-maintained '74....', he's somewhere between a scientist and an artist when it comes to finishes 👍

[Pea Turgh]

I’m a massive fan of oly white with mint guard, so that’s my vote 👍

[BlueMoon]

It’s your bass, so go ahead if that’s what you really want to do.

 

Unfortunately, most of the audience and the rest of the band likely won’t give a fizz about it.

[Steve Browning]

Still, you could always take a chance (someone had to start the ABBA puns).

[itu]

You clean and refinish the bass, change strings, and what? This sounds different! 

 

If you love your 50 year young serial produced instrument, but it does not look right, what should you do? Grab a RAL-code colour leaflet. If you have a friend working as an AD or similar, ask a rendering of the new design. 

 

By the way, what's the name of the band? Björn again? 

[kristo]

I'd keep the finish as is and get a white scratch plate. That would look sweet! 😍

[Geek99]

It’s yours so do whatever you like 

it’s already been refinished once so the “authenticity” is anyway reduced 

 

if it were me, I’d buy a cheap look-a-like of rutger’s jazz in case of theft 

Edited 1 minute ago by Geek99