Who would you trust to refinish a PRS Custom 24?

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I just picked up a PRS Custom 24 goldtop in trade for a spoon that was sitting idle in my safe. Approx. birthdate of the PRS is 1999.

It's definitely in need of a refinish. There are several chips/cracks/etc missing from the top. The back has several areas that are cracked and/or peeling in the clear coat. It plays great, but a refinish is definitely in order. There's a small chunk of wood missing from one of the points in the headstock, but I would just smooth that out and refinish it.

I can't do this myself. One thing I learned in an ongoing motorcycle project is that paint and I do not get along. Any ideas? Volunteers?

[stomachmonkey]

Guitars tend to be worth more if the patina is left intact

As long as the defects are cosmetic and do not affect playability you leave them alone.

[hawaiipcar]

If your in the Phoenix area the Roberto Venn school of luthire should be able to help you out, in Tucson call rainbow guitars.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Guitars tend to be worth more if the patina is left intact

As long as the defects are cosmetic and do not affect playability you leave them alone.

My understanding is that a PRS takes a 50+% hit value-wise with the first chip in the paint. I went into this knowing that I would have a ~$1k guitar. What I would like to do is turn it back into a $2k-looking guitar even if it's still valued at $1k.

Originally Posted by hawaiipcar

If your in the Phoenix area the Roberto Venn school of luthire should be able to help you out, in Tucson call rainbow guitars.

Thanks, I knew about Rainbow but had never heard of Roberto-Venn, for some reason.

I'm still holding out hope that slodave will see this thread and offer his services.

[Gogar]

Stop looking at it and play it. After some of the marks are yours instead of someone else's you won't care so much.

[slodave]

I kinda agree with the patina, but if you want to refinish it, I'll be happy to help.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

....even if it's still valued at $1k.

Minus the $xxx that you paid to restore it.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Stop looking at it and play it. After some of the marks are yours instead of someone else's you won't care so much.

Eric

Keif

Willie

[5String43]

Leave the thing alone, play it like it is. Or send it back to the factory to have it done right.

[Rick V]

Originally Posted by 5String43

Leave the thing alone, play it like it is. Or send it back to the factory to have it done right.

Yup

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by 5string43

leave the thing alone, play it like it is. Or send it back to the factory to have it done right.

+1

[rouxroux]

Screw the "looks". let's play!

I used to feel the same way about our Corvair & Corvette show cars. They were meant to be driven, not be museum pieces.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Well, turns out that based on the serial number, this is a "pre-factory" guitar made in '91...not '99 as stated by the previous owner.

Guess I will be doing exactly zero to it since it's worth a lot more left original than with any kind of restoration or refinish. It's also worth a lot more than what the AR was!

I'll say this, though: a cracked and peeling polyurethane finish is nowhere near "patina". It just looks either abused or defective. Nitro finish is where it's at for patina.

[BlueTone]

Originally Posted by BlueSkyJaunte

I'll say this, though: a cracked and peeling polyurethane finish is nowhere near "patina". It just looks either abused or defective. Nitro finish is where it's at for patina.

Yeah, PRS's finish does not 'relic' well, the poly finish will not wear like the nitro on Fenders or Gibsons. I've seen attempts to 'relic' PRS and they look horrible. However, especially since your Custom is a goldtop, a few battle scars can look cool. I had a '91 goldtop Custom 24 with a tune-O-matic bridge, lots of dings and scratches. Cool guitar.....