To Refin or Not to Refin

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:29 am

So I decided to have Paul give my LP a new face.

As I mentioned the guitar is player grade to begin with and though it is a somewhat rare translucent purple color I feel it's more of a novelty or oddity that Gibson should never have made to begin with especially on a model they were claiming to be a return of the 1960 Classic.

Part of me feels weird that I'm going to be removing one of these weird Gibson experimental colors but I think I'll appreciate the guitar more and I think the sunburst refin will bring out the subtle flame a bit more.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:05 am

Congrats on the decision Jamie. Best to go with what your heart tells you to do sometimes.

Paul can we impose on you to post pics of the refinishing process if it's not too much bother. Before and after shots would also be great.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:25 am

I'll do a photo essay on this refin. Jamie has requesed a nitro clearcoat instead of conversion varnish, since it's only a Gibson (JOKE!!! JOKE!!! JOKE!!!).

He's picked a really fine example of a well-aged and faded tobacco/red burst that I'll copy for the desired effect.

I'm doing the face only. Back and sides will remain the factory transparent cherry red.

Cherry red and purple. What the h*** were they thinking???

BTW, Mitch, I have not received your e-mail. Try again.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:28 am

"Back and sides will remain the factory transparent cherry red"

Oh! No wonder Jamie does not like the color.

Yuk.

I look forward to seeing your posts on this interesting subject Paul.

octagon · Post by **octagon** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:38 am

Hi Paul,I sent it again.I sent you an email a couple of months ago also,maybe you didn't get that either.I sent them to the email address in your Profile.

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:13 pm

Awesome. It'll definitely be cool to see a photo essay on this refin.

I think the guitar will retain is original character by keeping the back and sides untouched.

The purple and dark cherry back really is a nauseous combination. My preference would have been a dark tobacco burst top but in light of the fact the guitar has the dark cherry back decided to with a faded cherry burst look as Paul mentioned.

While we still haven't got around to discussing what type of guitars make good refin candidates I feel that this one can be rationalized to my satisfaction.

Anyway here is what it looks like now:

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:19 pm

I see now why you want a refinish Jamie. The purple flamed top is actually not too bad, but in combination with cherry sides and back. That would drive me nuts.

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:36 pm

Yea, one really has to wonder what was going through the minds of the people at Gibson when they chose some of these odd color combos.

Obviously the same purple they used on the top wouldn't have shown well over the dark mahogany but I would have thought a natural mahogany back & sides would have been much more desirable?

I agree the purple top by itself isn't all that bad and it also changes hues in different lighting conditions but overall I've never been completely satisfied with it.

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 3:59 pm

The moment I was waiting for has arrived! I picked up my newly refinned LP from Paul this afternoon and I'm finding it hard to peel myself away from looking at it long enough to make this post LoL!

Paul has done an absolutely amazing job and the guitar looks like a million bucks! To say I'm happy with the result is an understatement, I am simply blown away to know that this was the same guitar I brought into Paul.

Originally I knew I had a nice guitar but was a weird color but now the guitar has become priceless to me as it is exactly what I had wanted in a burst color and Paul took the photo I gave him and was immaculate in his execution. Not only a master of the craft but a true artist.

If those magenta LPs ever come into style and are worth ton of money I really could care less. I now have an original Wilczynski Burst and will play it more often and just plain admire the darn thing.

Here's a photo:

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 4:13 pm

That is absolutely beautiful, Jamie! The new finish shows off the figuring in the wood much better, and the new color is perfect for that guitar....

Wow. Paul really knows how to do it right!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 4:21 pm

Looks magnificent, Jamie - a great result!! That Wilczynski kid is really coming along in leaps and bounds, eh?

Wonder what's next.......

jamie · Post by **jamie** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:36 pm

Thanks Melissa and Howard! Had I known the guitar would have turned out this way I never would have hesitated having it done. I'm one happy camper!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 7:46 pm

Thanks to everybody. Jamie was one kool kustomer and I hope he sees many more years of inspiration from his rekindled love.

Jamie, enjoy!

Jamie goes on tour next week with his band, Candy From Strangers (Did I get the name right, Jamie?) and I'll bet that everybody is glad that Jamie's OUT OF THE PINK and into some flametop.

You know, I've probably done a dozen projects this year, and every one was a joy, and I met some great people.

Today, John William's '64 615 arrived, resplendent in bare wood, all ready for a partial rebuild and complete refin in JG. Should be fun and will be a beauty when done.

I'll be covering it under its own thread.

winston · Post by **winston** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:28 pm

Jamie that is a major improvement. I love LP's in Cherry Burst. That burst is one of the nicest I have ever seen on a Les Paul.

Very nice work Paul.

paulv63 · Post by **paulv63** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:31 am

Looks like a different guitar and that's a good thing! Great job!