Would you refinish?

[ScottySevins]

I have been thinking about refinishing my Gibson les Paul custom. It is a one off color purple red sparkle burst. I have always wanted a Pelham blue les Paul custom. Would this be a stupid idea or what? I was just curious this is something that I was pondering last night and wanted some feedback?

 

[guitaraddict]

If you love the guitar and plan on keeping it go for it.

 

[Colorado Mac]

If you love the guitar and plan on keeping it go for it.

+1. If you plan to keep it, do whatever you want to it, to make you happy with it. BUT, if you plan on selling it someday, I would refinish it to a more common color.

 

[otis12]

If you plan on selling it someday,seems like a one off color from the factory would be worth more than a re-finish.

 

[SPROING!]

For resale, "refinished" hurts value for sure. It's also expensive and time consuming for a good job. Objectively, you're way better off selling and finding one you like with factory paint.

But, guitars are seldom objective. It's a passion and we often feed our passions irrationally and smile the whole way.

 

[katarzis]

Post pics and we'll tell you.

 

[Carbohydrates]

Custom one-off? I mean, I'm not opposed to refinishing, but dang. I'd think long and hard, given the circumstances.

 

[sleep]

Pelham blue Les Pauls are available, but if you refinish yours, you'll simultaneously devalue it significantly and eradicate a small part of Gibson's history. You'll also make it impossible for future owners to appreciate that guitar. Ever read an auction/ad where someone's refinished a guitar from a rare color into something common and wonder what the person was thinking? Don't be that seller, unless the current finish is in some way ruined.

Any reason not to sell it and re-invest in a factory Pelham Blue LPC? If you decide to go that route, let me know & send me pics. I'd be interested in buying it.

I definitely wouldn't be interested in buying it if it were refinished, and I think a lot of people would probably feel the same. You would have to be competing with factory PB LPCs at that point... yours would have to be much, much cheaper, and you'll have invested hundreds more in a quality refin if it's going to compete at all.

 

[Dashface]

Pelham blue Les Pauls are available, but if you refinish yours, you'll simultaneously devalue it significantly and eradicate a small part of Gibson's history. You'll also make it impossible for future owners to appreciate that guitar. Ever read an auction/ad where someone's refinished a guitar from a rare color into something common and wonder what the person was thinking? Don't be that seller, unless the current finish is in some way ruined.

Any reason not to sell it and re-invest in a factory Pelham Blue LPC? If you decide to go that route, let me know & send me pics. I'd be interested in buying it.

I definitely wouldn't be interested in buying it if it were refinished, and I think a lot of people would probably feel the same. You would have to be competing with factory PB LPCs at that point... yours would have to be much, much cheaper, and you'll have invested hundreds more in a quality refin if it's going to compete at all.

This.

You have a one-off guitar. Don't make it the same as just any other guitar.

 

[Stringrazor]

don't

 

[ngativ]

Do whatever you want with your guitar. A good refinish doesn't devalue your guitar. Unless you have an original Gibson Les Paul from the 50's in good condition which would have a real historical value. I assume you don't have one of those.

 

[cmatthes]

I personally wouldn't refinish one that came from the factory in that color, but a CSB, Wine Red, etc. (stock finish) would do in a heartbeat.

In fact, I have!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Newer funny-colored guitars become rare-vintage guitars someday.

 

[Smakutus]

Photos!

Jeff

 

[modernp]

Paint away it's your guitar.

 

[Member 101620]

if it's one you want to keep, then go ahead and refinish it. You could play 100 pelham blue LP's and not have one that agrees with you like the guitar you already have. not all guitars are created equal.

 

[NashSG]

It's your guitar and money, but a professional refinish is easily a good chunk of a down payment on another guitar.

 

[Shredtrash]

It's your guitar. That said, a one-off color has the potential to be worth something someday not to mention the fact that no one else will have one. I wouldn't do it.

 

[NashSG]

Refinishing a Les Paul Custom won't be cheap, it's a double bound guitar with a set bound neck. That really increases the work to get it done right and the cost.

 

[Geek USA]

If the guitar is a "lifer", ie the kind I instrument you could pass onto your children one day, then why no refinish it? The value doesn't matter. I you're personally more satisfied with the guitar in a new color, go for it. I'm sure an instrument with extensive binding will cost a fortune to refinish though. It could be more practical to invest in another guitar with color you want. I'm not an LP guy at all, but I've been tempted by that Pelham Blue Traditional Pro '50s. PB is the best LP color! I may buy and mod the PB Epiphone just to have it around to look at, not the same instrument but a tele guy can't spend so much on a real LP to sit around the house LOL