Refinish 81 Les Paul OR buy an R7/8

Hick81

Hi all, 

Been chewing over the idea of refinishing my 81 Les Paul Standard (currently brown/wine red)

I've had the guitar since I was 16 and it fits like an old pair of shoes. It's a YOB guitar with plenty of sentimental attachment so I don't think I'll ever sell it. It's also been modded before I got it - pick ups switched and plenty of real ware.

The issue is I've got a real hankering for an R7 Goldtop or a black or cherry r8. 

Can't really justify having 2 Les Paul's so thought about refinishing my 81 to either a Goldtop or even a Blacktop. 

Anyone done this?

Just wondering if it's worth the hassle and I should I just man up and own 2 Les Paul's? 

Cheers 

richardhomer

Refinishing a Les Paul won't be cheap - and you will lose some of the 'played in' feel, with a new glossy finish.

I remember reading about Bill Nelson having his famous 345 refinished - claiming it was never the same after the work had been done. In fact it precipitated him moving over to Yamaha SGs for a while.

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

DefaultM

I got a well worn in guitar refinished and it was pretty much like new afterwards. I'd just own 2 les pauls (and I do).

Iamnobody

The other option is go for a refinish and get it reliced. I'm not the biggest relic fan but when done well the best can recreate realistic wear/checking that isn't to OTT.

I'm pretty sure they could replicate the current wear/condition if you wanted them to.

If you got a refin it would only be the top of the guitar so it would still feel the same guitar afterwards. 

Wine red is my least favourite colour on a LP - so my advice is...

Go for it!

johnhe

Financially, the best option (imo) is to buy a used R7/8. Refinishing your guitar or buying a new Gibby will both cost considerably more in the long term (when taking resale into account).

Iamnobody

johnhe said:

Financially, the best option (imo) is to buy a used R7/8. Refinishing your guitar or buying a new Gibby will both cost considerably more in the long term (when taking resale into account).

Definitely agree on buying used but...financially I don't think that's the best option.

Last time I looked a used R7/R8 was ~ £2k. A top refinish won't cost anything like that and OP doesn't want to sell the 81 (which is already modified) so I don't think resale enters the equation.

Also the 81 fits like a pair of old shoes - the Rx might not - so there's an investment of time there to find the right one.

ICBM

This won't be a popular opinion on a guitar forum I know , but...

Why do you need to do either? You've got a great Les Paul that you love, so firstly don't potentially ruin it - it will never be the same after a refinish, as richardhomer said - and secondly why do you need another one? (Unless you're gigging and need a backup.)

Take a deep breath and keep your old Les Paul the way it is. The grass elsewhere is not really greener...

Bridgehouse

ICBM said:

This won't be a popular opinion on a guitar forum I know , but...

Why do you need to do either? You've got a great Les Paul that you love, so firstly don't potentially ruin it - it will never be the same after a refinish, as richardhomer said - and secondly why do you need another one? (Unless you're gigging and need a backup.)

Take a deep breath and keep your old Les Paul the way it is. The grass elsewhere is not really greener...

You're never going to get this GAS concept, are you @ICBM?

richardhomer

Bridgehouse said:

ICBM said:

This won't be a popular opinion on a guitar forum I know , but...

Why do you need to do either? You've got a great Les Paul that you love, so firstly don't potentially ruin it - it will never be the same after a refinish, as richardhomer said - and secondly why do you need another one? (Unless you're gigging and need a backup.)

Take a deep breath and keep your old Les Paul the way it is. The grass elsewhere is not really greener...

You're never going to get this GAS concept, are you @ICBM?

It's a good job 'Frets' aren't awarded for NGDs - some of us wouldn't have very many....

Sassafras

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Hick81

This was my first post on the forum and the advice has been much appreciated and made my thinking a lot clearer. 

Reckon I'm going to hold off on the refinish for now. Then try out some R7/8's out and see if I can't live without one, as thus far my obsession is based purely on how pretty they look! 

richardhomer

Hick81 said:

This was my first post on the forum and the advice has been much appreciated and made my thinking a lot clearer. 

Reckon I'm going to hold off on the refinish for now. Then try out some R7/8's out and see if I can't live without one, as thus far my obsession is based purely on how pretty they look! 

Worth pointing out also that a refinished guitar from the era yours is from won't look like an R7 - the binding is too thick in the cutaway, the cutaway is too 'pointed', headstock too big, maple three-piece neck, chrome hardware, etc.

I'd far rather it looks like a genuine example of what it is, than 'a not quite right' R7....

John_P

If you have the cash for an R7 then enjoy the search for the right one and then you have a choice/spare for gigs.  
You can always do both if you hate the finish on your current guitar.   imo only sell when you need to with older guitars you've had for a long time, there is a fair chance you'll wish you had kept it at some point in the future.