Refinishing an Orville Thunderbird

[dc10bass]

Guys...

Need your input on the color...

I have noticed that the refinished TBird jobs I have seen are never in Sunburst?
Is it just too difficult to get it to look right? ...or too expensive?

There are no breaks or cracks on this bass.
...I am also adding a two piece bridge.

Let me know guys...

Thanks!


BTW...if you have time, check out my other Poll in "The Bass Zone": "John Entwistle Bass Rigs"
THANKS!

[exiledarchangel]

My vote for pelham blue, white would be my second choice.
Sunburst (2tone/3tone) finishes are just too difficult to look right, if you aren't a pro.

[drbassman]

Sunbursts aren't as hard as you'd think.  The problem is the look.  If you're trying to duplicate a Gibson finish exactly, it can be tough for amateurs to do so.  It does require some skill and practice.  Here's the first one I ever did, but I wasn't trying to copy anything here:



ReRanch makes sunburst kits in spray cans, so it is doable.  I would just suggest some practice before attempting it.  If it doesn't have to look exactly like a Gibson job, you have some creative latitude then.

As for me, I love pelham blue, vintage white or cardinal red TBs.

[eb2]

I would have voted Cardinal Red, if you would have wanted that.  I think the sunburst may be difficult when changing the bass to an original two piece bridge from a three-dolt.  You will have to do a lot of work to fill and mask the 3 holes.  It can be done, but it is difficult.  An opaque color would mask that better.  You could also take a piece of mahogany veneer and lay it down the middle strip to cover the mess, so it would look original and look nice with a sunburst.  That is the way I would personally do it, but it depends on your skill level and how much you want to mess around.

[TBird1958]

 Personally I'd do anything other than the choices you have posted............They've all been done!
So, on the conservative side.......I'd do a simple Red Cherry stain and gloss finish, how could that not look stunning with chrome parts (No Apologies Uwe!) And thanks to George (Old Man C) for suggesting it so long ago.
On the less conservative side, PINK really works for me
 

[drbassman]

I forgot to mention Seafoam Green as another favorite of mine.

[rockinrayduke]

Seafoam! +1

[Dave W]

Black. May not be traditional, but if the choice is there, I'll vote for black.

[drbassman]

There's something about the old pastel colors from the 60's that look so good on a TB.  Just my opinion!

[Bart!]

seafoam

[ramone57]

seafoam green with black hardware

[Barklessdog]

Another Sea foam vote here

[chromium]

I like the pastels too - kerry green and frost blue look good on a bird



Sunburst is kind of the defacto finish.  Doesn't really stand out as something special, being that you see so many of 'em that way.  I'd do a custom color finish if I was going thru the effort, or put a different spin on the burst like Uwe's purple-burst reverse.  It had a nice vintage vibe to it, and broke away from the typical brown tone sunbursts.

[OldManC]

You really could do anything you like... 

[drbassman]

Fantastic gallery, thanks George!