OffsetGuitars.com

Hi guys.

This is my dad's old band guitar (now passed away). I inherited it a few years ago and have been holding it. It currently doesn't work.

It's had some mods, as you can see! I think it's a refin, as the black doesn't quite come in far enough. Regardless, it's an old refin, as you can see from the wear, which was all earned playing on stage. The guitar also had a phase switch added along with a hole in the pickguard, regrettably, and I believe the bridge is a repro. The pots were changed at some point but are still relatively early (65 and earlier). Also, a string tree was added. It has slightly larger fret wire than original.

Now for the good parts. The rhythm circuit I believe is untouched. The neck appears untouched apart from the string tree. I think the pickups are original, as is as most of the wiring, the shielding, and the body itself.

I'm trying to decide what to do with this guitar. I have a different burst Jazzmaster, so was considering doing a refin, perhaps to black with a mint guard? I don't want to paint the headstock as I'd prefer to keep the decal and wear in tact. If I did a refin, I'd want to bang it up a little bit so the neck doesn't look totally out of place.

I'll also be trying my hand at a rewire using the original pickups. I'm undecided if I should use new components for everything else or try to keep the old pots and wiring. Are there any forum members who supply harnesses built to original specs?

Has anyone here done a DIY rattlecan refin (I'm looking at the stewmac kits)? Any tips?

I would get it working and enjoy as-is.

It only takes a second to spot the slightly off burst, but I find it charming.

I agree, if it was mine I would get everything working and play it. If you removed the phase switch, the hole would be barely noticeable.

countertext wrote: ↑

Fri Jun 10, 2022 8:42 pm

I agree, if it was mine I would get everything working and play it. If you removed the phase switch, the hole would be barely noticeable.

I second this

Well, that’s certainly the path of least resistance. Ill at least do that as a first step.

Do you think I should remove the second string tree? Or do they actually help?

T70 wrote: ↑

Sat Jun 11, 2022 6:06 am

Well, that’s certainly the path of least resistance. Ill at least do that as a first step.

Do you think I should remove the second string tree? Or do they actually help?

I would just keep the second string tree, doesn’t bother me much. I would suggest eliminating the phase switch to make it more “vintage correct”

i think you should send it to me

caples wrote: ↑

Sun Jun 26, 2022 1:05 am

i think you should send it to me

Once I get to 50 posts I will probably post it in the for sale section after fixing it up a bit.

This is the literal definition of awesome vintage guitar. Clearly played, loved, modified, the way it should be! Get it in working order and don't touch that thing

I can't think of anything cooler than an old offset which has been lovingly modified to suit one's taste - talk about mojo, and from your father no less - just the best!

I think so far we are unanimous on the suggestion to leave it as-is.

Personally, I would vastly prefer an old refin like this to anything done recently (even if the color is more interesting).

It has a really good vibe and look, I say do what you need to do in order to use the guitar properly and then just enjoy it, or sell it to let somebody else enjoy it.

When people come to OSG asking about refinishing beat up vintage guitars most of the forumites will tell you to LEAVE IT AS IS (or, 'give it to me').

I have refinished (sent off to refinish) two or three vintage guitars that all had previously botched refin jobs. I feel fine with those decisions BUT I never had a guitar that was played by my dad. Now, this might depend on how well you got along with your dad. [I'm sure a few people would happily want to erase all evidence of certain parents.]

I feel like with this one my concern is: a rattle can refin on a vintage guitar??? If you are an experienced hobby refinisher that might be cool, but as a first time project? You could potentially be throwing a few thousand dollars out the window. If I were you and I really really wanted to refinish the guitar I'd send it off to get a pro job. Pretty sure there aren't too many vintage black Jazzmasters without the matching headstock, but the guitar needs to make you happy first and foremost.

Jaguar018 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 6:34 am

When people come to OSG asking about refinishing beat up vintage guitars most of the forumites will tell you to LEAVE IT AS IS (or, 'give it to me').

I have refinished (sent off to refinish) two or three vintage guitars that all had previously botched refin jobs. I feel fine with those decisions BUT I never had a guitar that was played by my dad. Now, this might depend on how well you got along with your dad. [I'm sure a few people would happily want to erase all evidence of certain parents.]

I feel like with this one my concern is: a rattle can refin on a vintage guitar??? If you are an experienced hobby refinisher that might be cool, but as a first time project? You could potentially be throwing a few thousand dollars out the window. If I were you and I really really wanted to refinish the guitar I'd send it off to get a pro job. Pretty sure there aren't too many vintage black Jazzmasters without the matching headstock, but the guitar needs to make you happy first and foremost.

This is very good advice, don't try to refinish a vintage guitar if you aren't already experienced at doing that, especially if you plan to sell it later.

Leave it as it is, or sent it off to a proper refinishing expert to have it done.

I’m not 100% convinced it’s a refin… would have a better idea if I could hold it in my hands

The sunburst is super weird (defective, even) but I’ve seen weirder things on old Fenders

If there’s even a 1% chance it’s the original finish obviously it should not be touched

The black following the contour of the tummy cut definitely looks suspect, but yeah unless you have a complicated relationship with your dad I would think that having some reminder of his physical presence through the play wear would be a really nice thing to keep around. Keeping his guitar the way he played it would be a lovely tribute to the guy.

But yeah, if you didn't have a great relationship with your dad (100% understandable), doing a refin over the refin isn't going to affect the value one whit in today's market.

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Looking quickly at the body cavities ... was that guitar originally the infamous Antigua? Looks a bit greenish in there. No idea if the Antigua run dates match up but it looks a bit in that way.

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