Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Well Colin brings up some valid points. The term refin is used for everything from a rattle can, do-it-yourself job, spraying over the binding and masking the chrome--all the way up to a beautiful factory-quality job like the one in my link. So to use a blanket statement like "refinishing a guitar cuts it's value in half" doesn't make much sense to me.

And about this statement...

collin wrote: It's worth less than a mint factory paint job on vintage models only. ......now how many "mint" factory paint jobs do you regularly see on vintage guitars? Not many.

What is "vintage?"

This bass is 30 years old now, so it has officially been an antique for 5 years already: http://rickresource.com/register/viewit ... ine%3Dtrue

Are you telling me that it's worth less now than it would be if it were still white/black binding/plastic and in mint condition? 'Cuz I beg to differ. I've never seen a white 4001 no matter how good the condition sell for more than $1800. What do you think the bass in my link would sell for?

BTW, I'm not trying to be a jerk and get in your face Colin. I'm just having a counter point.



If "vintage" means a '64 RM1999 or a '68 4001FG, then I'd have to agree with you.

rickaddict wrote:

AdamBomb wrote:
Forgot to say, that guy's refinishing work is really out of this world. How does something like that actually affect resale value though?

That's hard to say, 'cuz I don't think anyone has sold one yet!

I'll tell you what though...that "refinishing an instrument cuts it's value in half" theory is a line of complete and utter BS.

Paul re-did this 4001 for me:
http://www.rickresource.com/register/vi ... ine%3Dtrue

Before the re-fin, it was probably worth around $1300... and I sure as heck wouldn't sell it for $650 today.

Heck, I'll give you $800 right now and come pick it up.

rickaddict wrote:

collin wrote: It's worth less than a mint factory paint job on vintage models only. ......now how many "mint" factory paint jobs do you regularly see on vintage guitars? Not many.

What is "vintage?"



If "vintage" means a '64 RM1999 or a '68 4001FG, then I'd have to agree with you.

Jeff, that's a debate for a whole seperate thread....but generally speaking the guitar community recognizes instruments built up to (and even slightly past) 1969 as true "vintage" instruments.

ie...a dealer such as Gruhn's, Mandolin bros, GC Vintage, CME, etc....would prefer to have instruments up to and including 1969 (possibly stretching to around 1972-73 in Rickenbackers case). You can get even more specific about vintage and say its "golden years" are between 1954-1964 , before most guitar companies went corporate and quality went down.

The 25-30 years old argument just simply doesn't hold water. It doesn't hold water in the "classic" car world, and it certainly doesn't hold water in the guitar community.


Not trying to refute your agument, this is simply the general consensus of the market.

Ahhhhh. I see!

rickaddict wrote:I've never seen a white 4001 no matter how good the condition sell for more than $1800.

I think Dave Pascoe paid a bit more for this one (pay no attention to the "model" )

Dave bought Joey?