Guest MoJo Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) I have a Jazz bass copy, 3 colour sunburst over American Ash. Bound, rosewood fretboard with Mother of Plastic block inlays. Classic Jazz bass. I can't decide whether I like it or whether sunburst finishes look a little dated now. I'm tempted to get it refinished in a Daphne Blue or Surf Green. What's the general consensus on Sunburst finishes these days? Edited September 13, 2021 by MoJo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nekomatic Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Yay! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 It'd be one of my colours of choice on a bass. As to refinishing your bass; to get it done to a high standard won't be cheap. You'd be better off selling your and buying the colour you like (unless yours is a cracking player or sentimental). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 No offence to Jazz Bass' (I have a Jazz Bass type thing and think they're great) but as their look hasn't changed much in 60 years aren't they willfully dated/traditional now? ...in which case I think the sunburst is what I picture as the traditional Jazz bass colours and is probably what I'd go for whereas if I was getting something modern like a Dingwall Combustion I'd go for some completely different more modern look like these (which I don't think would really work with a Jazz Bass). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 I think it's kind of a neutral colour that doesn't ever really offend or really excite. Doesn't look out of place in any band, but also doesn't catch the eye. It's the elevator music of bass colours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Love sunburst, but your bass should be the finish you want. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Nothing wrong with a nice sunburst. Rather than seeing it as being dated I'd say it is a timeless classic. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr4stringz Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Love sunburst. Only thing I’d say if you do go for a refin, won’t look as good as it could unless you colour match the headstock, being a Jazz variant and all… How about a gold anodised scratchplate instead to freshen it up a bit? They always seem to look cool on a SB finish where there’s a dark board… 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ1 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 It depends whether you were thinking of selling it at some point, if you were sunburst might have a wider appeal than bright green or blue. I like bright orange myself, but I know I am never going to get permission for it from other people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 1 hour ago, MoJo said: I have a Jazz bass copy, 3 colour sunburst over American Ash. Bound, rosewood fretboard with Mother of Plastic block inlays. Classic Jazz bass. I can't decide whether I like it or whether sunburst finishes look a little dated now. I'm tempted to get it refinished in a Daphne Blue or Surf Green. What's the general consensus on Sunburst finishes these days? If you freeze frame that charlton Heston movie about Moses, and look carefully at the tablets of stone you ll probably see that #11 (next to his little finger) actually says “thou shalt have no other bass finish but sunburst, and blessed be the holy tort (but only celluloid not that cheap printed rubbish)” so it is the actual literal word of God that you go with sunburst 3 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, MoJo said: I'm tempted to get it refinished in a Daphne Blue or Surf Green Assuming you've a tort pg already — and now I can see you don't but never mind — Daphne Blue, or even better Lake Placid Blue. Edited September 13, 2021 by Ricky Rioli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) Sunburst - probably my least favourite finish - like navels, everybody has one. Surf Green - possibly my favourite - unusual - no contest for me Edited September 13, 2021 by TheGreek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 I was never overly attracted to sunburst basses until I bought a 70s RI jazz off of a friend , then it really grew on me , it suited the classic look, but to me, I don’t think it looks good on all basses 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Sunburst? That's the perfect colour scheme for a bass, with Tort and Rosewood, of course. I have 3 burst basses and while it wasn't something I planned, I'm very happy with the look of them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 I like sunburst, for me these three just work: Burst, gold, maple (50s) Burst, tort, rosewood (60s) Burst, black, maple (70s) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nail Soup Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 Sunburst? Nay, nay and thrice nay! Daphne Blue? Yay, yay and thrice yay! Surf Green? A single Yay. To paraphrase Ian Dury in S&D&R&R: Sunburst is such a pity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 From a more vintage/traditional perspecyive, I'd take a solid or flat opaque finish every day of the week; not a fan of bursts or natural finishes. My old Aria P is yellow>red>black while the bass is a killer, I don't like the finish one bit (probably the reason so much of it is missing now). The only burst finish I am partial to are whatever Gibson call the two-colour one below - I've seen similar of Thunderbirds - oddly I think it would look good on a StingRay, but not so much on a Precision/Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 30 minutes ago, NancyJohnson said: From a more vintage/traditional perspecyive, I'd take a solid or flat opaque finish every day of the week; not a fan of bursts or natural finishes. My old Aria P is yellow>red>black while the bass is a killer, I don't like the finish one bit (probably the reason so much of it is missing now). The only burst finish I am partial to are whatever Gibson call the two-colour one below - I've seen similar of Thunderbirds - oddly I think it would look good on a StingRay, but not so much on a Precision/Jazz. Was not the original precision sunburst just two colours ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 I love sunburst. I'd keep it as it is, it looks great alongside the P. If I was doing a re-fin, personally I'd go candy apple red with matching headstock. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Geek99 said: Was not the original precision sunburst just two colours ? The first Precision was honey blond with a maple fretboard and a black pick guard. Edited September 13, 2021 by chris_b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) Ok, the first sunburst then … @chris_b I did say “… original precision sunburst just two colours “ Edited September 13, 2021 by Geek99 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) As i've got older i now prefer the natural and wood finishes... particularly on classic shapes, and more particularly on a bass... save the colours for the guitars... {saying that something is on my mind...} As for Sunbursts, I dont like the red of a 3 tone and prefer a two tone brown or tobbaco burst. Your P and J look sweet as they are, I'd go down the Matching Scratchplate route if ya fancy a change... but i don't do tort, My plain and simple P in Natural... Edited September 13, 2021 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 I've never really like most sunbursts - they always seem to fade from bright to black too quickly for me so they look yellow/orange/black rather than a more gradual shift like you would see in, well, a sunset... The colour pallet reminds me of smoky pub ceilings too. But, it is classic, so if that's your thing enjoy! 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted September 13, 2021 Share Posted September 13, 2021 (edited) - Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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