Soledad Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 I'm considering having someone refinish a bass body for me. Did a Google, Sims Workshop comes up and they are fairly close to me but don't have much detail info on their site. I'm undecided yet between nitro and poly, I know the pros and cons but not firm either way yet. It's a Fender and I'll probably go for Lake Placid Blue. Does anyone have any recommended painters - doesn't matter where in the UK really as I'll strip the bass down to body only so can ship reasonably easily. Advice and recommends appreciated 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeystrange Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Sims. Yes, their website is awful, as you’ve found out, but they’re very good. Give Martin a ring and have a chat with him about what you want, I’m sure he’ll give you all of the information you need. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted November 25, 2019 Author Share Posted November 25, 2019 6 minutes ago, joeystrange said: Give Martin a ring and have a chat with him about what you want, I’m sure he’ll give you all of the information you need. Cheers @joeystrange - just what I needed. I'll give him a call. Thing is I have this really fab P that is my main gigging bass (a Jazz the close second) and it is all-round excellent except it's black and that is just not me - get the colour right and it's a lifer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 1 hour ago, Soledad said: I'm considering having someone refinish a bass body for me. Did a Google, Sims Workshop comes up and they are fairly close to me but don't have much detail info on their site. I'm undecided yet between nitro and poly, I know the pros and cons but not firm either way yet. It's a Fender and I'll probably go for Lake Placid Blue. Does anyone have any recommended painters - doesn't matter where in the UK really as I'll strip the bass down to body only so can ship reasonably easily. Advice and recommends appreciated 👍 I'd try David Wilson in Hexham. I had a body and a neck refinished by him and was very happy with the results, plus David is a great guy. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002025970885 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 +1 for David Wilson. One of the best in the biz. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted November 25, 2019 Author Share Posted November 25, 2019 Well, what a morning. Spoke to a guy at Sims (apparently Martin is a bit part-time these days and wasn't there but their paint guy spoke to me). So, bass dismantled but poly finish left on for them to strip, then poly new colour, approx £650. Nitro add 50% to the paint part, comes in about £870... fork a duck. As an aside spoke with Mark at Limelight recently and he will do me a 60s LPB Precision for a grand, so for £130 more than a nitro refin I'd get a whole extra bass - and a right nice one too. SO> spoke (well FB'd) David Wilson - we're on. Around £310-ish for a full strip and nitro refin solid colour (3TSB may be more, dunno). He sounds ace, nice work on FB page. 6 - 8 weeks but I'll get some pics of the body in it's current black and then WIP and back in the LPB - just to share experiences and spread the word. As usual on BC, if you ask for help you get it quick, good and true. Big thanks to all above👍 The Limelight will need to wait... sorely tempting tho' 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Limelight are awesome, and Dave Wilson is a wizard. Great choices to have! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 12 minutes ago, Soledad said: Well, what a morning. Spoke to a guy at Sims (apparently Martin is a bit part-time these days and wasn't there but their paint guy spoke to me). So, bass dismantled but poly finish left on for them to strip, then poly new colour, approx £650. Nitro add 50% to the paint part, comes in about £870... fork a duck. As an aside spoke with Mark at Limelight recently and he will do me a 60s LPB Precision for a grand, so for £130 more than a nitro refin I'd get a whole extra bass - and a right nice one too. SO> spoke (well FB'd) David Wilson - we're on. Around £310-ish for a full strip and nitro refin solid colour (3TSB may be more, dunno). He sounds ace, nice work on FB page. 6 - 8 weeks but I'll get some pics of the body in it's current black and then WIP and back in the LPB - just to share experiences and spread the word. As usual on BC, if you ask for help you get it quick, good and true. Big thanks to all above👍 The Limelight will need to wait... sorely tempting tho' Interesting, I’m considering doing the same and had looked at Sims’ website. The cost they’ve quoted you is prohibitive for me, I’ll consider David Wilson instead. Thanks for inadvertently helping me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazhowe Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Another +1 for David Wilson. Top quality professional and a great guy to deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EBS_freak Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 Bow finishing. Awful website, awesome finishing. https://www.bowfinishing.co.uk/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted November 25, 2019 Share Posted November 25, 2019 6 hours ago, Soledad said: Well, what a morning. Spoke to a guy at Sims (apparently Martin is a bit part-time these days and wasn't there but their paint guy spoke to me). So, bass dismantled but poly finish left on for them to strip, then poly new colour, approx £650. Nitro add 50% to the paint part, comes in about £870... fork a duck. As an aside spoke with Mark at Limelight recently and he will do me a 60s LPB Precision for a grand, so for £130 more than a nitro refin I'd get a whole extra bass - and a right nice one too. SO> spoke (well FB'd) David Wilson - we're on. Around £310-ish for a full strip and nitro refin solid colour (3TSB may be more, dunno). He sounds ace, nice work on FB page. 6 - 8 weeks but I'll get some pics of the body in it's current black and then WIP and back in the LPB - just to share experiences and spread the word. As usual on BC, if you ask for help you get it quick, good and true. Big thanks to all above👍 The Limelight will need to wait... sorely tempting tho' Good choice. Don't let the cheaper quote fool you, his work is really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted November 26, 2019 Author Share Posted November 26, 2019 (edited) On 25/11/2019 at 10:42, wateroftyne said: Limelight are awesome, and Dave Wilson is a wizard. Great choices to have! Who said anything about choice OK, I suppose I could sell a body-part. Just one of those coincidences that I happened to be discussing a 60's P with Mark, and the cost of that really puts the Sims quote into perspective. So, I'm about to break down my P to send body to Dave W - he reckons about 6-8 weeks. And still in contact with Mark re a Limelight, though that might need to be Olympic/tort now. As a reminder to us all, here's a Limelight 60s P (recently made for a BCer I believe) - just how GOOD does that look?? Edited November 26, 2019 by Soledad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 1 hour ago, Soledad said: And still in contact with Mark re a Limelight, though that might need to be Olympic/tort now. As a reminder to us all, here's a Limelight 60s P (recently made for a BCer I believe) - just how GOOD does that look?? ...and it sounds as good as it looks 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted November 26, 2019 Author Share Posted November 26, 2019 25 minutes ago, wateroftyne said: ...and it sounds as good as it looks 🙂 Aha, yours then? That'll be the one five back on the left rack at your meet. Does it sound reasonably OK through the Acoustic rig? Like, north of acceptable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 42 minutes ago, Soledad said: Aha, yours then? That'll be the one five back on the left rack at your meet. Does it sound reasonably OK through the Acoustic rig? Like, north of acceptable. Yeah, acceptable. And the rest 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CamdenRob Posted November 26, 2019 Share Posted November 26, 2019 Worth bearing in mind (used to be the case anyway, I’m doing them a grave miss-service if it no longer is) that Limelight won’t be able to do you a proper finish. When I enquired a while back “light relic” was the best that could be offered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 On 25/11/2019 at 12:06, EBS_freak said: Bow finishing. Thanks, had a look and I'm sure they could do what I need very well, but having spoken to Dave Wilson by then I have committed already. It's a '90s bass and I will use it quite seriously so it'll get marks and dinks over time anyway. 9 hours ago, CamdenRob said: “light relic” was the best that could be offered. I understand that, I think if you want a Limelight you are happy with a replica roadworn / relic'd bass. I've discovered that perfect as new finishes cost at least one third (Dave) of a whole Limelight. I still don't know how Mark does such a great bass at that price and from what I've seen his light relicing is really convincing anyway. But it'll have to wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 On 25/11/2019 at 10:39, Soledad said: Well, what a morning. Spoke to a guy at Sims (apparently Martin is a bit part-time these days and wasn't there but their paint guy spoke to me). So, bass dismantled but poly finish left on for them to strip, then poly new colour, approx £650. Nitro add 50% to the paint part, comes in about £870... fork a duck. As an aside spoke with Mark at Limelight recently and he will do me a 60s LPB Precision for a grand, so for £130 more than a nitro refin I'd get a whole extra bass - and a right nice one too. SO> spoke (well FB'd) David Wilson - we're on. Around £310-ish for a full strip and nitro refin solid colour (3TSB may be more, dunno). He sounds ace, nice work on FB page. 6 - 8 weeks but I'll get some pics of the body in it's current black and then WIP and back in the LPB - just to share experiences and spread the word. As usual on BC, if you ask for help you get it quick, good and true. Big thanks to all above👍 The Limelight will need to wait... sorely tempting tho' £870 for a P body refin? Blimey. Limelight all the way for that money. Nice to hear about David Wilson, always handy to have refinishing options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 On 25/11/2019 at 20:06, EBS_freak said: Bow finishing. Awful website, awesome finishing. https://www.bowfinishing.co.uk/ I was going to recommend them as well. Sei (Martin Petersen) used to get their instruments finished there before getting Simms involved. Simms are insanely expensive for an off-the-street punter. I've finished instruments and yes there's a lot of labour involved in a gloss finish with all that hand rubbing with 800 grit towards the end. But not 850 quid's worth. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo-London Posted November 27, 2019 Share Posted November 27, 2019 I have used Joseph at https://www.josephkayeguitars.com/ for a '66 Precision in sonic blue with light relic. Fantastic finish and paint job. Very lightly crazed. Looks fab. This guy really knows Fenders. You can't tell from these photos but hey it looks cool. Peace Davo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soledad Posted November 27, 2019 Author Share Posted November 27, 2019 7 minutes ago, Davo-London said: I have used Joseph at https://www.josephkayeguitars.com/ for a '66 Precision in sonic blue with light relic. Fantastic finish and paint job. Very lightly crazed. Looks fab. This guy really knows Fenders. Like his site - he looks like he really digs the old stuff, handwound pups, GEC valves... very handy to know about. Also interesting to know who Martin P has used and uses, because his output is obviously impeccable. Thanks @Kiwi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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