what to do? refinish or not?

[luv]

Hey everyone....I'm relatively new here....haven't posted in awhile. I'd like to get some opinions about a recent find.

First, a little about me. I've got a rediscovered hots for Balls. I've also recently got the hots for white guitars with maple necks (so classic...and they age nicely). Sadly, for financial reasons I had to sell my ASS last year. Ball less! I thought I could just downgrade and be happy with a decent guitar. That guitar turned out to be a Fender MIM Strat with custom 69's in it....not bad for a temp fix. I really didn't realize what I was missing until I stumbled upon an Axis in a local shop.
Immediate flashbacks followed by drooling and glee followed by an emptiness in my soul. Alot like GAS.....only BALL GAS! Oh the necks! The f'n necks! I got the hell out of there.

A week later I'm on EBAY (damnit!). I stumble across the Axis Sport / BBC Music festival guitar that was up for auction. I'm sure many of you saw it...but were scared to go near it. The auction didn't even describe the guitar...it just talked about the BBC event and the signatures that were on the body. I was curious if it was a real guitar in good working condition and in good shape and all.

I e-mailed the seller and they assured me that everything would check out...although it was apparent that this person probably was not qualified to make that assesment. But I was looking at this thing thinking It's an AXIS with MM90's on it! The maple neck has aged 10 years!..this thing has never been played!

I decided to take a calculated risk ( based on the initial quality of every EBMM that I've ever put my hands on. ). Bid.....but bid LOW.

Here is what I got for $310 usd.

First of all, the neck on this thing is amazing! The figuring on it is unlike any I have ever seen (admittedly not a ton). It is almost 3 dimensional in appearance...depending on the light....almost looks like you are looking deep into the wood....like a liquid.....it changes in intensity with the light. And feels unreal!

I took the whole guitar apart and cleaned everything...it was a bit dusty. I gave the neck a good oil/wax job and pieced it all back together. By the way, Juan....in '99 you did some beautiful neckwork! Re strung with 11's....made some set up adjustments and plugged in.

Wow.....first time for MM90's for me......wow.....Clean....Mean....Articulate....with attitude. Really like 'em from a first impression.

The guitar plays wonderfully......I haven't touched anything else since I got it a week ago.

The body.....well.....that's my dilemna. Do I?

1. Strip and refinish? Sacrelige?
2. Sand and prep poly and paint over that? Not sure of results.
3. Leave it alone and deal with it? uuuuuuugh.

I don't want to offend anyone at EBMM or with the BBC Music Festival in regards to wanting to refinish the guitar. There is another one out there like this....so it's not a one off...from my understanding. I e-mailed CS , but they don't offer refinishing services.

I don't care about the resale value of the guitar...I'm keeping it for a long time.....and besides I only paid $310 for it. It can't get much lower than that. And it's worth $310 to me for the playablility alone. I got it to play it! But I want it to look good too....it longs to be solid white. Again, I have no intention of offending anyone that had anything to do with the original graphic of the guitar. It's just not for me.

What would you do? Thanks all! Happy new year!

Sorry for the long post

 

[agt]

There is something to be said for keeping it the way it is. It has character and is a reminder for a good cause.

Then again, if you have to have white, you have to have white. I recommend getting an instrument of that quality professionally refinished, as opposed to trying to do it yourself.

I finished one project guitar about 15 years ago. It turned out OK, not great, and was a lot of work. Plus there are health hazards involved and buying all the masks etc. to protect yourself and others will add to the cost. Something to consider.

Google "guitar finishing" and "guitar finishing services" to get an idea of what's out there and what it will cost to have a professional do it. I'm guessing it will probably cost about as much as the guitar cost you, give or take a little, but again, an instrument of that quality is a keeper.

Either way, enjoy playing it!

 

[candid_x]

Wow, $310! Good score. The quarter-sawn neck is amazing, and worth more than the price you paid for the whole guitar.

I'd totally leave it. I like the design and the message.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Wow, that neck is precious, I've seen some fantastic wood textures on guitars in my time but that has to be the best I've ever seen. I am with you on the body, yes a good message and nice graphics in line with the theme it was meant to, but it will mean nothing to you when you play for yourself and your audience. Its gotta go. White all over will look great.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

First off, great deal you got!!

I love these one-off (or in this case two or three) guitars, especially when they're done for a good cause. If the finish really bugs you, I'll buy it. I like it.

That being said. It's your guitar, and you're entitled to do whatever you want to it. If you're going to have it refinished, have it professionally done. With the price you paid for it, a paint job isn't going to break the bank. Probably a $150-250 job, plus you can make sure it's a finish you can really be happy with.

Again, great find!!!

 

[fsmith]

I'll give you $400 and save you the agonizing decision...

Nice grab! Refin it if you want, I'd let a professional do it though.

 

[GHWelles]

That is a ridiculous price for that guitar. I refinned a guitar once and it was never the same, lost its resonance. I would leave it. Failing that, I would get a white Axis body somehow, and slap that killer neck on it.

 

[luv]

....and the first offer comes in.....

I don't think I'd sell this for $700 right now.

 

[banjoplayer]

Thanks for showing!

This neck is one of the best I´ve ever seen !!!

I´d leave it as it is. I mean, breast cancer is not necessarily a word you would like to see for breakfast every morning, BUT it has a message that´s important and for a good cause and such messages aren´t usually very positive.

i too love this kind of one offs...+ this one has a very tasty design.

The price is unbelievable, it´s worth the neck....

 

[Colin]

that neck!!!!!!!!!

 

[RobW]

no kidding, that neck alone is worth the $310....simply outstanding!!

again....

I say for that kind of deal, refinish that thing to how you want it - spend some of the dough you saved and have it done right. Then NEVER get rid of it!

Who knows, maybe there's some nice maple under that paint...

If the refin f*^#s it up, get a new body, then NEVER get rid of it!

Or, see if EBMM can sell you a body with a primo top in the color you want, and swap the electronics and hardware. You'd have one of the sweetest ASSes around, and the original body/finish could stay intact...

(and never get rid of it!)

 

[Road Pop]

Check your PM's.

 

[Josh O]

OMG that neck is SICK!!!!! Awesome score.

 

[Big Poppa]

You know we get involved in these promo deals or charity auction guitars and they never go to players INITIALLY.....It is just a cost of being involved....It is bittersweet to see people sell guitars that were given as a gift from a charity...But the flip sode is that it ended up with a fabulous home.....

HOw about doing a Sticker guitar and make it funky and cool covering up the pink and wierd graphics....if you ever decide to sell it you can take the stickers off and you havent changed anything

I think its ok also to refinish this. There are some good guys out there doing aftermarket finishes but I cannot recommend any

 

[jcm900]

I think you should leave these graphics. $310?!! that's more than bargain

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Refinish it in a funky green sparkle finish!

 

[luv]

yes indeed.......this neck is SICK!!!!

 

[luv]

BP-

Thanks for your blessing. It makes whatever decision I make a little easier. I too had thought about the idea of stickers. Creative....affordable. And the best part about that would be that I wouldn't be without the guitar for a month......


.....though I guess I could just sleep with the neck while the body was away!

 

[tommyindelaware]

be still my flameing heart !!!!!

me being the flame whore i am.....if possibly interested in a ball trade ....get up w/ me.

 

[Sweat]

Damn thats a pretty cool guitar and hell of a score, never saw that one on the bay or I would have bid, my wife would have loved that one congrats, just leave it man