Recommendation for someone to refinish my Les Paul top, in the N’west.

markj

I’ve got a 2002 Gibson les Paul standard that is a fantastic guitar that is probably better than the R9 I used to own.
 I would like the original sunburst finish on the top of the guitar changed to a dirty lemon/ honey burst.
The finish doesn’t have to  be high gloss more of a VOS to match the aged nickel hardware.
Any recommendations would be very welcome. I live in the north west.

richardhomer

James Philip Porter (I think he’s moving premises - he was in Salford). Good guy who trained under one of the best in the business (the late Ted Lee).

TheMadMick

The Northwest is a big area.

I've used Richie Tomson in Wigan and Mike Smith in Southport. Either could do a good job for you at sensible prices.

CavemanGrogg

Not that I've had it done, I've never had a guitar refinished, yet alone refinished in the UK.   I've been thinking about and looking at putting together a partscater for myself, for quite a while now.  From what I've been reading, and heard from people, is that the ''best'' is rarely from a ''proper business'', the best is being done by people treating it as more of a ''hobby'' for lack of a better term - they're proper businesses, and not large scale.  I can't confirm this, it's just something that I've been hearing from everybody I've spoken to who has had a guitar refinished. or finished for them, and read online, even on this forum.  Personally, I've been finding it a huge ''rabbit hole'' to find somebody to finish a guitar body for me, though half of that is me deciding on the finish.

Deijavoo

David Wilson:  https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/99003/guitar-re-finishing-north-east

markj

TheMadMick said:

The Northwest is a big area.

I've used Richie Tomson in Wigan and Mike Smith in Southport. Either could do a good job for you at sensible prices.

I’ve used Tomson guitars before for other things, didn’t know that he would do a refin.

TheMadMick

markj said:

TheMadMick said:

The Northwest is a big area.

I've used Richie Tomson in Wigan and Mike Smith in Southport. Either could do a good job for you at sensible prices.

I’ve used Tomson guitars before for other things, didn’t know that he would do a refin.

If you look on his web page you will see he makes electrics (I use him for my acoustics) so he must be able to finish. It's not much of a stretch to believe he can refinish. Give him a bell and ask. Similarly for Mark.

markj

Tried everyone from the list and no luthier is interested.

Can’t find James Philip Porters contact details.

aconitethrill

I think Pete at Rigby Music in Stockport offers refinishing - may be worth dropping him a line?

 https://www.theguitarandbassshop.co.uk/setups/refinish-colour-service

timmypix

markj said:

Tried everyone from the list and no luthier is interested.

Can’t find James Philip Porters contact details.

He used to be at Noiseboy Studios in Salford, so if you drop them a message, they might have his details if he has indeed moved to different premises. I used to pop my head in and his finish work always looked great.

EDIT update - found his details, looks like his website is still under construction and he's between premises, but his number's on here so it's worth checking:
https://www.musiciango.com/local-business/instrument-repair/philip-porter-guitars

Speaking of places I used to use in Manchester, Jack's Instrument Services do finish work: https://jacksinstrumentservices.com/prices.html

richardhomer

markj said:

Tried everyone from the list and no luthier is interested.

Can’t find James Philip Porters contact details.

I’ve PM’d you his mobile

markj

Guitar was dropped off this afternoon to Mr Porter, will give updates when I get the guitar back.