To refinish or not refinish. That is the question

[12manyaxes]

Hi all , just picked up a 1970 bluesbird with hb1s. Black with what seems like the original case sans the guild tag on the outside.. decent enough shape . Plenty of checking paint chips here and there and some paint worn off on the back of the neck , nothing alarming. Original tuners. Knobs have been changed.. good action sounds fantastic. Certainly presentable..full hollow body.

The question is should I refinish or leave as is.?. I got it for a pretty good price so I wouldn't mind spending more on it. It would sure be sweet mint not that it isn't now. Would a refinish take away from its value?

I'd enjoy and appreciate any opinions

 

[guitarslinger]

Beat is neat.

Sometimes.

 

[davismanLV]

It's your guitar. Unless it's super rare or crazy expensive, do what you like! Would you do it, or take it to someone???

 

[12manyaxes]

It's your guitar. Unless it's super rare or crazy expensive, do what you like! Would you do it, or take it to someone???

I think I would take it to someone. Only because I know I don't have patience to mask off the binding and this guitar deserves to be done correctly..

 

[BradHK]

Congratulations on a beautiful Guild! As Tom said, it is yours so if you would happier with it refinished then that is your call. However, if that guitar was mine, I would not refinish it. It actually looks pretty good in that photo! Much better than my black 1970 Bluesbird!

 

[GAD]

Would a refinish take away from its value?

Yes, but did you buy it to play or as an investment?

 

[mushroom]

To me it doesn’t look too bad. Way better than some of my guitars.

A refinish would detract its value. And to me they never look right.
You’ve got a new paint job with tarnished hardware and it just looks wrong.

But it’s yours so do with it what you want.

 

[HeyMikey]

I like it the way it is.

 

[12manyaxes]

Yes, but did you buy it to play or as an investment

 

[12manyaxes]

id say play and keep but sometimes positions change and i wouldnt purposely devalue such an instrument , hence the question .
as i value the opinion of the people who are as passionate about these wonderful guitars , i posed the question to see how people feel about refinishing.. which seams to be quite a booming business.

 

[lungimsam]

I say leave it alone if you like black.
If the top or binding starts coming apart one day, or needs other structural work, then I'd go for the refinish.

 

[Norrissey]

Looks great to me as is! Congrats!

 

[GGJaguar]

It's not too bad as is.

 

[walrus]

I'd leave it, I love how it looks. But it's your guitar!

walrus

 

[jeffmac]

Thats a really hard to find guitar for a good price and its beautiful. I agree with everyone saying leave it alone. I have a guitar that was already refinished horribly but it felt amazing to me so i decided to have someone refinish it .. It took me about a month to find someone even willing to do it and Its about 1200. plus a few months minimum if they aren't already booked out for more time. Sweet guitar!

 

[jp]

Agree with the other posters. I think you should do what works for you. I actually have both examples, and there are advantages to both. I had a pristine '59 T-100D in Sunburst that I was always nervous about dinging it up or marring the finish. I replaced it with a '59 T-100D refinished in black that I don't worry at all about handling with kid gloves.

My '76 M-75 Bluesbird is riddled with battle scars. I often consider refinishing it, but as is, I can play it without worry and I like feeling the rigors of playing it exhibits from previous owners.

 

[SFIV1967]

I would leave the black finish alone unless she was already refinished? Do the knobs have the little pointer nails? If not and if you see no holes for them in the top anymore she was refinished already!
Below is an original finish earlier 69' with mini humbuckers, just disregard the wrong bridge. So I would put original Guild knobs on her. Also unfortunatelly the metal switch tip is gone...which is almost impossible to find a replacement...

The case looks original Guild to me.

Ralf

 

[S100]

I’d leave it. It’s part of the guitar’s story.

 

[Sal]

I would never refinish a guitar. Maybe I would as an art project with a cheap beater guitar. Your guitar will increase in value with its original finish.

 

[secndshft]

Sell > refin