Should I refinish my '68 jazz??

[stevej1982]

Hi all, hoping I could get some opinions on here, I have a 1968 jazz bass all original parts and wiring, very playable condition, it has been refinished at some point in the 70's in nitro and was a pretty good job, apparently done by George Lowden a fairly well know guitar maker in Ireland, this stacks up as it's a local guitar.

The original colour was sunburst and it has the original tort pickguard. The finish has aged very nicely and has that light relic look with checking and great mojo.

However, I'm not sold on the colour but had to buy the bass because it's clearly awesome!!! The colour is not an original fender colour so should I

1. Leave it as it is, it's already vintage after all

2. Refinish it in orginal colour and if so should I relic it?

3. Pick a fender colour available in 1968 it's refinished anyway so value won't be affected much by another refinish

[stevej1982]

Pic!

[Steve Browning]

Either leave it alone or refinish with nitro and let the mojo happen at its own pace.

[chris_b]

It's already been refinished so you can't devalue it any more. . . . but what's the point?

IMO I don't see this as a good use of your cash. I'd leave it.

[Tradfusion]

I'd leave it alone with its current mojo... whoever requested that colour must have been fairly patriotic tho

[skidder652003]

lovely bass but not keen on that colour, if it was me and I had the cash, I'd refinish it in its origional colour but I wouldn't relic it.

[Bigwan]

Not keen on that colour either. I'd return it to the original colour. I'd relic it a little though...

[Geek99]

Leave it unmolested

[KiOgon]

Leave it!
Looks like Sherwood Green to me http://www.vintageguitar.com/24640/fender-custom-colors-in-the-1960s/

[gjones]

I think that, as it's no longer in original condition, you should go for option 3.

[bassmayhem]

Make it YOUR bass!

[Rumple]

I quite like the green but if your not keen and have the spare cash burning a hole in your pocket then option 3 seems the way to go.

[fftc]

No reason not to refinish as it's not the original anyway, so pick a colour you like, either available at the time or not. Your preference, but I think it needs to be a nitro finish, professionally done, and no relicing.

I'm trying to decide if it's worse to put fake wear on a new bass to make it look old, or fake wear on a vintage bass to make it look old!

[T-Bay]

I like the green and I wouldn't want to mess with that. Each to their own but you would be stripping the history off it.

[guybrush threepwood]

I think a white pickguard will set it off - no refinishing needed!

[spongebob]

I like it as it is, very cool indeed.

If it were me, I'd leave as is, and just get on with enjoying it.

I think it looks great!

[SlapbassSteve]

[quote name='guybrush threepwood' timestamp='1504285434' post='3363931']
I think a white pickguard will set it off - no refinishing needed!
[/quote]

+1!

-Though that green does look rather Marmite, so otherwise option three if it still ain't your bag!

[Cuzzie]

Yeah leave it or get a custom pickguard with a picture of a forest or something cool on it to go with the colour.

Can't remember who but there is guy on here who can put pictures on them

[therealting]

If I were you I would email John at Bravewood and see about a refinish (and relic to your taste). He did my 61 - have had it side by side with an unmolested one and his work is superb - and he now has my 64.

[TheGreek]

[quote name='guybrush threepwood' timestamp='1504285434' post='3363931']
I think a white pickguard will set it off - no refinishing needed!
[/quote]

Total agreement....maybe an "aged" white/Ivory?

[Pea Turgh]

Strip it to bare wood and clear coat it, like what Marcus Miller did like 20 years ago or whatever.

[skankdelvar]

Being refinished means it's worth less than an unmolested '68. On the other hand being refinished by the legendary [url="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lowden"]George Lowden[/url] means it's probably worth [i]more [/i]than a normal refin but not by much.

Unless the colour seriously bothers you why not just leave it as it is and let the next owner (if there be one) spend the money getting it re-refinished?

[lojo]

It's not original so you can't base your decision on trying to keep it original

If you go for a solid refinish you'll have to be more careful with it that if you leave it , this is why I like to by basses that already have wear

If you want a different colour or finish then go for it , but I'd would either leave it or restore it to an original stock look and colour


All just personal opinions of course

[LukeFRC]

It looks amazing - love the colour! Didn't the fella from U2 have a jazz that looked like that?

[Sibob]

Some old nitro LPB finishes actually come up this kinda green over time.
Unless you really dislike the colour, I'd leave it, it has its own character & story

3 old LPB Fenders:

[IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/qxrkhi.jpg[/IMG]

Si