EVH/MM refinish question

[Metro]

Great forum! Anyway I have already spoken with EB about a ding that is near the back of my EVH/MM. They can either fix the ding or redo the whole finish so that any signs of the patch would not show.

The question is whether a total refinish will affect the value (resale..not that I want to sell it!), but it is something that would help to know.

And right now the finish is perfect on the rest except a small chip that shows down to the wood. Any input on people who have had this done or have thought about it is appreciated. I am a bit concerned about all this, although the EB people I spoke to were very, very helpful! Thanks.

 

[guitar99]

IHMO, unless you have a rare & valuble finish color to begin with, if you had the refinish done by EB, it would probably not hurt the resale. But, I suspect that the refinish would cost mucho $$$ and it would not raise the value of the guitar by nearly as much.

A ding that goes down to the wood lowers the value, but a new refinish hardly ever raises the value to anything close to the amount of $$ paid for the refinish.

If you really want the refinish, do it for your own enjoyment , not for resale value.

 

[Metro]

Thanks for the reply. The main decision is that doing a patch would not match properly. While it is not a big deal since it is in the bottom of the back edge, the other alternative was the complete sand down and refinish.

As I recall it would probably have cost an extra $200+ or so, for the complete job. I am not sure how much a patch that does not match, would decrease the future value.

And that is the reason I gave consideration to the whole refinish. But as I said the finish is in mint condition right now, just the one ding to the wood. If I get it patched though I would like it to match, but as you said is it worth the extra money...

Any other input from anyone? As I need to get this resolved, and am having a tough time making a decision, because once it is started I can't really turn back. And wondering if anyone else has dealt with a similar situation, and what patching or a refinish do to the value?

 

[bmenary]

Metro-

I have a bunch of EVH's , some sit in cases uplayed, others I play- I have obsessed over condition myself- The color of your evh and it's rarity would be key before I could give you my real opinion-

What color top is it?, flame or quilt-

Tell me that so I can give my opinion- One thing I can say about value and I have discussed this with other EVH collectors is it seems the hardcore collector or player may rather buy the guitar with the 'original' finish- I think most people would agree that even refinished it would retain it's original value but not increase it- You know?

Personally I would disclose that it was refinished to the buyer but that's just me.

Barry

 

[Metro]

Barry,

It is a '92 Sunburst finish. I assume it is the flame top. I didn't know they came out that year in different versions. But it has more of the wood grain lines that run vertically through the body.

The point you made about the hard core collector - player is what I would have thought too.

I wouldn't do a total refinish to increase it's value, actually I thought it would diminish the value if anything. That is why I was not sure if a patch job would do the same, and decrease the value since it wouldn't match.

 

[bmenary]

Metro,

EBMM Made about 600 Sunbursts- They are rarer then the common Transgold,red, blue, etc...but certainly not the rarest-

If it was me, I would just leave it alone- I'm sure you could always get what you paid for her or make some money-

If you really love the guitar and want to keep her, I would have it entirely refinished by EB only-

Do you want to sell the guitar? keep me in mind if you do, I like sunbursts.

Barry

 

[Metro]

Barry,

Thanks for the information. I definitely plan on keeping it.

You mention that you would leave it alone, or refinish it at EB. Are you saying that you would not do the patch & refinish totally it if it were you - and you were keeping it? Or that if it was going to be refinished just make sure that EB did the job?

Sorry for all the questions...been struggling with this decision for awhile.

Thanks...

 

[bmenary]

Met,

If you are keeping it and playing it you can always get it re-finished down the road- So if it's your player guitar I would not refinish it-

Odds are you will ding it again someday if you are playing it so why spend the money now-

I would leave it alone and not do anything unless it's a show piece.

Barry

 

[Metro]

Barry,

Thanks for your input. You made a good point. I had not been using it as my main guitar for some time, as I had been trying to decide what to do.

And as you say I can always do a complete refinish in the future. I appreciate all the feedback I received!