Refinish a 2002 R8 .. Yes or No ? (with pics)

[pirateflynn]

I have a 2002 R8 that I really like, but the finish could be better. It's a Butterscotch/Lemon drop which is kind of flat/without much of a burst. The color has a greenish tint and there are a couple of faint cherry spots (about the size of a fingerprint) that looks like the red dye from the back accidently made it to the front side. Anyway, in your opinion, would a beautifully done finish in a faded bourbon burst hurt the resale value? Can you think of any other negative impact? Thanks!

[Sean French]

Got pics?

I've seen many in the butterscotch finish. I think they look cool. I used to have an '01 and an '02 R8 with that finish.

I would leave it as is.

[pirateflynn]

Here are some pics. The first is my guitar. The next two are finishes that I like.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c364/pirateflynn/Special/IMG_6070.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c364/pirateflynn/Special/hillbillyburst5564.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c364/pirateflynn/Special/2.jpg

[Cody Anchor]

I like it as is.

[ManliusGuitar]

I think it will certainly hurt resale, but if you like the look, go for it! I like it in the first shot as is now, but if you aren't feeling it....

[TattooedCarrot]

I think it looks great as it is. You'd be better off to just sell it and get one you'd like.

[Sean French]

Looks great to me. I would leave it be.
The '01/'02 R8' are quite sought after. Somethin' special about them.
Also they have less of a bat neck like '03 to present.

Here is a '02 R8 I used to own.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f121/1957gold/R882182003.jpg

[Patrick2]

If you don't have it already, you need to go out and buy the book . . . "The Beauty of The Burst" Great photos in there, of real '58 '59 and '60 bursts. Many look just like your guitar. Where all of the burst has faded, as they do, they are refered to as "un-bursts" . . as opposed to "sun bursts" You do a refin, and you take from the guitar's originality, its character, its mojo and its current personality.

It's your guitar, do what you feel most comfortable with. But, it's a winner just the way it is and I would be proud to own it . . . along with my 4 other Gibson Custom Shop reissue Lesters.

[Boogie92801]

Dont do it. I have had a few buddies refin guitars and every time I though it had a negative impact on the guitars feel and tone... cant relly say what it was but I didnt like them as much afterwards.

[davess23]

No. I looked at all 3 guitars and if I were choosing one it'd be a battle to decide whether to take yours or the one directly under it. To me, your guitar qualifies as a killer top R8, one of the nicer ones out there.

[Ruraltom]

Wow... I can't se what the problem is! Sell it an' get one that's pretty enough for you.

[pirateflynn]

Thanks very much guys, for the compliments and for saving me money! lol

It IS a great one. The neck is much more R9 than R8 (IMO) .. beefy but very playable.

[Stonesy]

Value of the guitar will go down and you will be out the cost of the refin.

[lordofthethighs]

It's an awesome looking LP as it is. I wouldn't dick with it.
If you really have to have another color / finish, then sell it, and
buy one that suits your needs.

Just my 2¢

[treeofpain]

I vote NO refin. Love butterscotch...

[mattoo31287]

I like those color choices, but a good refin can cost a lot of cheddar. If you've got the money I say go for it.

[mgarrison99]

I think it looks like crap. I'll give you $1500 for it to take it off your hands...

[Rod]

I'd leave it alone. The finish is now 10 years old... a new finish may make it not sound as good. For the $$ you were going to spend on a refin, buy a Reverend or other cool guitar

[stratzrus]

I think it looks great as it is. :agree

[Turbozag]

I like it as is too.
A quality refin is gonna run you serious coinage...

[Ed Alvarado]

Leave it as is!

[corn husk bag]

As is, now relax, please. Put the money you saved in another guitar savings fund, preferably a Les Paul with the finish your eyes like. Or a Daphne blue strat!:facepalm

Steve

[DonP]

I thought both of these were the same guitar just with different lighting. I say don't even think about it. A greenish hue is what it suppsed to look like.

Here are some pics. The first is my guitar. The next two are finishes that I like.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c364/pirateflynn/Special/IMG_6070.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c364/pirateflynn/Special/hillbillyburst5564.jpg

[pirateflynn]

Yeah, I can understand why you thought that. They are similar but the 2nd one has more of a shaded edge. ;)

[matt3310]

Don't touch it!!!

[Stringrazor]

let it be

[phoenix 7]

Yeah, I'd leave it alone. Looks beautiful to me.

[Deacon]

Man, I sure wouldn't refinish it. I think it looks awesome as it is.

Just buy another R8 with the finish you want and have TWO of em!! :aok

[buddastrat]

I don't get the, get another one in the color you want. They are very different. If you find one you like, it took me owning over half a dozen, at least, plus trying out a bunch more through mail order...if you find a great one, then you keep it! Each guitar has it's own personality, you can't just replace that!!!

A refinish is only the top and no big deal. You know what hurst resale? Economy, more than anything. Selling it now, won't get much. He already owns it, paint it! I'm not into the butterscotch yellow, more the warmer, faded colors. So I'd go with a refin for me.

[Shovelhead]

That would be an easy refin. If you love the guitar, go for it. Who cares about resale? You won't sell it if you love it.

[Nada]

i love it as-is. big vote for NO right here.

[chubbywolf]

Man.....
Dont mess with it. It is a rabbit hole you do not want to go down, and once you do it, there is no going back. I went through a four year saga with my beloved R7 that eventually ended with me having it refinned by RS Guitarworks. The guitar never felt/played/sounded the same after I started messing with the finish. Do yourself a favor and save yourself a lot of time. Your guitar looks pretty damned amazing, BUT if you still have your heart set on another finish, sell it and find what you are looking for.

[BCJek]

Since you asked... no.

That guitar looks great as-is. The other color choices are also great, but no better, just slightly different. Sell it and buy the one you want, maybe?

[RSRD]

Leave it as is. If you want those other finishes just save up a bit more and find a deal on one.

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

If it's a tone monster, I wouldn't touch it and just learn to love it for the tone.

If it's just in the middle of the road, sell it and find what you really want! :mmm

[telest]

Would definitely leave as is...looks very nice.

[Beng2040]

Don't refin that beauty.

[I'm Incinerator]

Man, I would say leave it as is! That R8 is the R8 that I would love to own someday!!! if/when the funds and special speciman are available :). I think I enjoy the subtle burts or unburst look with more of the tan/honey/lemon hues

[Trego]

No refin...trade before a refin.

[67blackcherry]

I refinned my '98 R8 - it was an ice tea burst, now it's a nice cherry sunburst although I wish I had gone with a bourbon/tobacco sunburst.

If that's what you want, DO IT. I never regretted doing mine, and I seriously doubt the resale value will be affected.

[chrisrocksusa]

I love the 1st pic, dislike the 2nd two.

you'd be a goddamn fool to refin.

[SimsCustomShop]

Leave it like it is, it looks awesome! If your not happy with how it looks sell it & buy one with a burst you like, but dont refin this one.....by the way, if you'd like to sell it I'd like to have it :)

[Jahn]

leave it as is. especially since i misread and thought you said out of those three pics, the first two were what you wanted and the third was what you had, and i was about to agree that you should strip the third to make it look like the first!

[alexanderplatz]

I think the original finish is awesome.

[rockinlespaul]

That would be an easy refin. If you love the guitar, go for it. Who cares about resale? You won't sell it if you love it.

:agree

[stormin1155]

I think it would be a crime to change anything about it. Looks great just the way it is.

[RedTiger]

Yikes! Touching that beauty would be a tragedy. :( Leave it alone, I say.

[Stringrazor]

I'm reminded of a signature line that I probably saw here: "you don't play the paint".

[Broken Cord]

I think it looks great as it is. You'd be better off to just sell it and get one you'd like.

:agreeDon't hurt the value.

[Razz11]

While the examples you provided do look better IMO, I would still not refinish it. Better off selling it and trying to find something closer to those colors.

On the other hand, if the guitar plays like a dream and is 99.9% a keeper (the 0.01% being the finish) then maybe its worth it to you to have it done.

The one thing I will say for sure is that one of those examples looks like a vintage or relic/refin and the other one looks like a replica, which means you probably won't find a newer stock Gibson in that finish or that will probably age to that finish. So if you have your heart set on having something looking like either of those two, then refinish it or sell to fund a replica.

[pirateflynn]

Thanks for all of your replies, guys. I'm keeping it the way it is.

[chubbywolf]

Thanks for all of your replies, guys. I'm keeping it the way it is.

Good move. You will thank yourself for this later.