Refin recommendations US

Bringing your older offset back to life.
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pakhan
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Refin recommendations US

Post by pakhan » Sat Feb 19, 2022 5:07 am

Hi everyone, as I consider some potential guitars, can I ask if anyone has any recommendation for refin work in the US?

I know of Joe Riggio, and a handful of others, but have no personal experience. Any leads would be greatly appreciated- especially if the cost if not astronomical!

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snarf
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by snarf » Sat Feb 19, 2022 6:49 am

I would check out Sims custom shop. They have been posting a lot of nice finishing work recently on their instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simscustomshopguitars/

If I had a vintage guitar that needs a new life I'd go to Joe Riggio. His restoration work looks top notch:
https://www.instagram.com/riggioguitars/

Sims sherwood green looks the most accurate to the later variations like the AO jazzmasters and the johnny marr jaguar. I'm pretty tempted to get one done myself.

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øøøøøøø
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by øøøøøøø » Sat Feb 19, 2022 12:27 pm

I can only speak to two with whom I have direct experience as a paying customer:

Protocaster for vintage-correct refins using lacquer that’s very close to the old stuff; also for subtle, believable aging

Rowyco Kustoms for metal flake and anything super difficult but not necessarily vintage-obsessed

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rbrcbr
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by rbrcbr » Sat Feb 19, 2022 12:59 pm

øøøøøøø wrote:
Sat Feb 19, 2022 12:27 pm
I can only speak to two with whom I have direct experience as a paying customer:

Protocaster for vintage-correct refins using lacquer that’s very close to the old stuff; also for subtle, believable aging

Rowyco Kustoms for metal flake and anything super difficult but not necessarily vintage-obsessed
Seconded with Protocaster, he does some great work. He did my casino refin and i will forever sing his praises hahaha

I think Riggio quoted me double what Protocaster charged me, which is wild. Joe does great work from what I can tell but $1800 or whatever he wanted to charge me for refinning a guitar that was already stripped to a base clear coat wsa pretty absurd, that's not economical for most people going after a refin.

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JagChat
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by JagChat » Sat Feb 19, 2022 9:58 pm

Anyone have any experience with Danocaster for vintage refins?

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adamrobertt
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by adamrobertt » Sun Feb 20, 2022 4:35 pm

snarf wrote:
Sat Feb 19, 2022 6:49 am
I would check out Sims custom shop. They have been posting a lot of nice finishing work recently on their instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simscustomshopguitars/

If I had a vintage guitar that needs a new life I'd go to Joe Riggio. His restoration work looks top notch:
https://www.instagram.com/riggioguitars/

Sims sherwood green looks the most accurate to the later variations like the AO jazzmasters and the johnny marr jaguar. I'm pretty tempted to get one done myself.
I have direct experience with Sims and I would avoid at all costs. Guy is super unprofessional, unresponsive, and slow as fuck.

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Tiny C
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by Tiny C » Mon Feb 21, 2022 6:54 am

My 59 JM is with MJT right now, getting stripped of its prior heavy poly refin, getting refinished in Olympic White, and getting an accurate decal on the headstock. They will also do an aged mint pickguard, and then a full setup. Of course the most important thing will be how it looks and feels when I get it back, but I thought it worth giving my 2 cents that I have been very happy with the customer service so far. Very responsive when I have emailed them (both at the sales stage and the work stage), and they assign a project manager to send me updates, answer questions and send me (a few) pictures of the progress. They are very receptive to specific requests (like, "here's a picture of a guitar that I want this one to look like"). I know some people have found their finishes to age too easily, but that is not a negative for me - I want the guitar show wear as I use it.

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pakhan
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by pakhan » Mon Feb 21, 2022 7:38 am

Thanks everyone, I'm familiar with Joe's work and first hand experiences are very valuable.

Now is to figure out if ordering a new Riggio vs. going vintage and doing a refin!

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snarf
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by snarf » Mon Feb 21, 2022 12:58 pm

adamrobertt wrote:
Sun Feb 20, 2022 4:35 pm
snarf wrote:
Sat Feb 19, 2022 6:49 am
I would check out Sims custom shop. They have been posting a lot of nice finishing work recently on their instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simscustomshopguitars/

If I had a vintage guitar that needs a new life I'd go to Joe Riggio. His restoration work looks top notch:
https://www.instagram.com/riggioguitars/

Sims sherwood green looks the most accurate to the later variations like the AO jazzmasters and the johnny marr jaguar. I'm pretty tempted to get one done myself.
I have direct experience with Sims and I would avoid at all costs. Guy is super unprofessional, unresponsive, and slow as fuck.
Thanks for the heads up! Not worth the headache.

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N0_Camping4U
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by N0_Camping4U » Thu Apr 14, 2022 12:46 pm

I've read numerous stories of Sim's being slow and super unresponsive. Wasn't there a post here in the last year or so where a guy said Sim's had his guitar like 8+ months and the owner of the guitar had to threaten legal action to get it back? It was something super crazy like that.
"I've been waiting for you, Obi-Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner, now I am the master."

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Jazzmastervsjaguar
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by Jazzmastervsjaguar » Thu Apr 14, 2022 12:58 pm

I’ve used Marty bell for 4 project guitars and all have come out excellent.

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camilonava27
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Re: Refin recommendations US

Post by camilonava27 » Wed Jun 08, 2022 6:49 pm

snarf wrote:
Sat Feb 19, 2022 6:49 am
I would check out Sims custom shop. They have been posting a lot of nice finishing work recently on their instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/simscustomshopguitars/

If I had a vintage guitar that needs a new life I'd go to Joe Riggio. His restoration work looks top notch:
https://www.instagram.com/riggioguitars/

Sims sherwood green looks the most accurate to the later variations like the AO jazzmasters and the johnny marr jaguar. I'm pretty tempted to get one done myself.
I’ve heard some negative things about Sims. The best Sherwood green I’ve seen has to be from Copacetic Customs. Check out this Jag
https://www.instagram.com/p/CeRc0lBOyQp ... MyMTA2M2Y=

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