Questions about simple repair costs

[gweimer]

That's what I thought.  I was subconsciously biting my lip when the guy told me that I'd never get my money out of a bass that I had refinned.  Well, not at THOSE prices.  Maybe this guy tries to steer away from doing refins because of the time it takes.

For the refin, I'll go to my regular guy (Mark Kaiser in Franklin, OH.  fretrepairbymark.com ).  As a comparison, he did the complete restoration of the Magnatone for about $225.  That involved some serious stripping, refin, and reassembly.

From this:


To this:

[drbassman]

$1200 for a refin tells me the guy really doesn't like doing refins, but for a "sucker" he'd go ahead and do one anyway.  Many luthiers I've talked to love repairing and building, many do not like finishing/painting instruments.

Any one else hear that from their luthiers?

[nofi]

the repair guy i use charges 35 bux for a bone nut including setup and 40 for a bone bridge saddle. i do my own setups but there is no need when he's on the job. was doc watson's guitar guy for many years so the work is always first rate. i once asked why he was so so cheap and he said that's what it's worth to him. a longtime banjo player/teacher as well he lots of stories about the country music scene in atlanta from the old days.

[Pilgrim]

I was once exploring the cost of having an original style nitro refinish done on my 1963 P, which I repainted around 1972.  I got a quotation from a gent named Scott Lentz who is evidently one of "the names" in doing vintage refins. He quoted $2000 and that was some time ago.  For an absolutely top-notch job, I'm not sure that $1200 is out of line.

[drbassman]

To be honest, I'd never pay more than $750 for a top notch pro paint job unless there was lots of stripping and prep required first.  Just my take on that having done some finish work myself.

[Highlander]

I wonder what the cost of flying out to Adelaide to go to Bret's luthier would cost...? 

[gweimer]

I wonder what the cost of flying out to Adelaide to go to Bret's luthier would cost...? 

You know, I *could* use a vacation.   

[Freuds_Cat]

I wonder what the cost of flying out to Adelaide to go to Bret's luthier would cost...? 

A lot more than doing some simple math but whole lot more fun. 

[Highlander]

Ah... but for the budget...  dreaming of the vineyard tour...

[Pilgrim]

To be honest, I'd never pay more than $750 for a top notch pro paint job unless there was lots of stripping and prep required first.  Just my take on that having done some finish work myself.

I feel the same way - just quoting what I heard.  I couldn't pop for that kind of money.  For $2000 I could learn to do MANY things myself rather than pay someone else.  That's one big reason I took on the refin project on this P-special...so I'd have the skills to refinish the '63 P if I ever decide to.  Now I'm confident that I could do it.

[Highlander]

There's nothing complex about a home refin...   

[drbassman]

At least you've got some of the original hardware!

[gweimer]

I just got a call from my normal luthier.  Both basses are done.  He couldn't fix the Magnatone (no charge) and the Gibson pickup has a new home in the BaCHBird.  Cost of $45 in all.

[drbassman]

Here's a good article on pricing luthier services...........

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/ts0092_moneytalk.hzml?jrl=152162&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ts0092&clk=201525

[shadowcastaz]

I would recomend you find a person that does custom paint on cars & bikes that also plays guitar.These guys are hip to old & new nitro /laquer etc.Im going to have a  friends son paint my PRS body.............just a thought.