Your Opinions please...

[carpedebass]

You guys seem to be the hallowed few who know all there is to know about our beloved Music Mans....
That said, I am of a mind to refinish my SUB5. I do not mind the textured finish too much, but was thinking of perhaps some candy purple with the woodgrain showing through. I do not have a spray rig, etc and would probably just use the old Krylon (I think) candy spray cans with a few serious coats of laquer. (I actually painted a motorcycle once with this stuff and it looked amazing.)
My primary concern is, however, would I be seriously screwing up the value of my beloved SUB? The fact that SUBs are no longer made, might just make it worth something some day...or am I nutz? Also the guy I bought the SUB from said that he got it from Royal Music in Merrick, NY and they were supposedly very close with the whole Music Man bunch...long story short, they say this is the very last SUB5 to come off the line. No way to prove it though...
OK, your opinions please....be kind too...I bruise easily.

 

[todd4ta]

I would leave it as is. If you need to refinish it, plan on a solid color. It's very likely that the wood used underneath does not have the type of grain you may be expecting to see. When the body is finished in a non-transparent finish, often times the wood used isn't the most beautiful to look at. One side of the body may be darker and the other lighter for example. There may not be any grain to speak of.

Also, it's a lot of work and you may or may not be happy when you get done. My recommendation is to leave your SUB 5 as is, and start saving up for a Stingray 5 or Sterling 5 in exactly the color that you want.

 

[silverburst]

I'd say go for it -- it is your bass and if it floats your boat, then cool. It might be a good idea to not get too hung up on a trans finish, and have a second choice of color in mind in case the grain ain't so hot when you get it stripped down.

As far as value, speculating on the future value of something that may or may not be collectible is usually pretty unfulfilling.

 

[oli@bass]

AFAIK, the SUB bodies are made from poplar. Not a wood that is know for its nice looking grain... pieces of poplar I have seen had the least grain I've ever seen on any wood, but that might be different depending on where it grew (see the different types of maple grain there are).

I'd not try to do such a paint job myself, but take it to someone who's a pro. Then you will end up with a pleasant result.

However, regarding resale value: If you are already thinking about its resale value, then I'd not tinker with it. As silverburst pointed out, it's your bass, but it will be even more so after refinishing it -- you might have a hard time selling it at all.

 

[carpedebass]

Thanks guys. I'm thinking I will just leave it alone. It doesn't really bother me as it is, so it's not hurting anything. I'd hate to take it to something that isn't stock and ruin the value of it. I don't know that it will ever be worth more than it is now, but I suppose that isn't the reason why I purchased it either. It plays/sounds like a knockout fighter now, so I'll just leave it as it is.
No kidding, I've owned basses that cost 4X this bass that didn't have the playability or knock-your-head-off tone that this thing has. Repaint it? Start jacking with it? What was I thinking?

 

[Kristopher]

If you're wanting to change up the look of your bass, how about a pickguard change? Pretty easy to do, and pretty easy to change back.

 

[carpedebass]

That's already in the works. Iam having one made as we speak at Pickguard Heaven. It's the Black Pearl. I think I said Black Marble in another post, but I just checked and it is Black Pearl. The material below...

Also thinking about buying some black tuners and black knobs for it. Keep the originals just in case...

 

[thunder]

shop around, there are people who do great work at a cheap price. (check the net).

 

[PzoLover]

value equation

You guys seem to be the hallowed few who know all there is to know about our beloved Music Mans....
That said, I am of a mind to refinish my SUB5. I do not mind the textured finish too much, but was thinking of perhaps some candy purple with the woodgrain showing through. I do not have a spray rig, etc and would probably just use the old Krylon (I think) candy spray cans with a few serious coats of laquer. (I actually painted a motorcycle once with this stuff and it looked amazing.)
My primary concern is, however, would I be seriously screwing up the value of my beloved SUB? The fact that SUBs are no longer made, might just make it worth something some day...or am I nutz? Also the guy I bought the SUB from said that he got it from Royal Music in Merrick, NY and they were supposedly very close with the whole Music Man bunch...long story short, they say this is the very last SUB5 to come off the line. No way to prove it though...
OK, your opinions please....be kind too...I bruise easily.

hey Carpedebass, first off, my suggestion is to avoid assessing future "aftermod" value... "value is so flexible depending on so many factors and if I was you I'd focus on the inherent structural and musical "values" of your fine MM bass ... if she wears good and plays and sounds good, she'a a keeper for whoever has her in his arms ... and about "refinishing ... remember that "Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder" ...
follow your heart matey! and remember that a fine MM bass is an instrument of Love and not just a commercial trading piece.

 

[carpedebass]

Pzolover...duly noted and well said, sir!

 

[ekb16b]

a big +1 on saving to buy a sr5 to get the trans grain finish you want..

i still think that white is the best colour for a sub

 

[carpedebass]

Yea, I like the white too, but I've heard the red is pretty nice as well. Never seen one in person, but I have seen the black. I like it too.

 

[nicjimbass]

As far as value, speculating on the future value of something that may or may not be collectible is usually pretty unfulfilling.

For some reason, this line, in this thread reminded me of all the people back in the 60's and 70's etc. that refinished their Fenders, and are now probably kicking themselves!

I would condone refinishing it, but remember, from that point on, it's a tool, not a collectors item. Perhaps one day they'll be sought after, but who cares? It's a bass, not a museum piece!

 

[RitchieDarling]

Well, if you do decide to re-finish, these guys are the best in the business!

rsguitarworks.net - Home

They did my Checker Cab bass. And it's looks great!

R

 

[carpedebass]

Thanks guys, but I have pretty much decided to leave well enough alone. I bought the bass to play, not sell. Still I subscribe to the old saying, "If in doubt...DONT!"
I'm trying to figure out a way to afford a new Bongo 6! I thought about being a male stripper...people would pay me to put my clothes back on...