How to tell if a guitar was refinished.......???

[DMgolf66]

I had just posted on another thread about a 1953 Guild X-300 that looked great. So good that I was wondering if it was refinished, which then made me wonder "is there a litmus test or some sure way of detecting this"?

I'm lucky to live where I do in terms of having some great shops close by with amazing vintage gear and I'd love to learn one more thing when it comes to evaluating guitars from yesteryear.

[deacon Mark]

I had just posted on another thread about a 1953 Guild X-300 that looked great. So good that I was wondering if it was refinished, which then made me wonder "is there a litmus test or some sure way of detecting this"?

I'm lucky to live where I do in terms of having some great shops close by with amazing vintage gear and I'd love to learn one more thing when it comes to evaluating guitars from yesteryear.

There are things that can be telltale signs of a refinish and some swear on using Blue Lights. Bottom line is that nothing is foolproof even the greatest experts disagree on some examples. Finally if a guitar was refinished a long time about it would be impossible to know for sure.

Then of course there is the possibility a new guitar was refinished right? Yes saw this a few times in both Barker and Hollenbeck's shop. A new guitar would get finished and things did not come out as expected so they stripped the finish off and started over................it might even show signs of this when the 2nd finish was applied. The litmus test is whatever the "experts" tell you and then be careful they might have and agenda.

[wintermoon]

it takes a long time examining many instruments, including multiple examples of the same model guitar from the same era. knowing period finishes is very helpful [for example if you see a 30s Gibson L-5 w/a cherry sunburst you can bet it's a refin] all of those and many other subtle indicators are helpful, but experience is paramount.

[sgosnell]

I don't understand the obsession with original finishes. To me, a guitar is more valuable if it has been competently refinished from a state where the finish was in poor shape. The finish protects the wood, and is essential. If the guitar is going to be hung in a glass case and never played, only gazed at with tears in one's eyes, then perhaps an original peeling finish is fine, but if the guitar is going to be played, a decent finish is essential. If having that required a refinish, then that increases the value, because it costs money to have it done by a professional, and I don't have to have it done. Strads and Amatis don't decrease in value because of multiple refinishes.

Here endeth the rant...

[DMgolf66]

I don't understand the obsession with original finishes. To me, a guitar is more valuable if it has been competently refinished from a state where the finish was in poor shape. The finish protects the wood, and is essential. If the guitar is going to be hung in a glass case and never played, only gazed at with tears in one's eyes, then perhaps an original peeling finish is fine, but if the guitar is going to be played, a decent finish is essential. If having that required a refinish, then that increases the value, because it costs money to have it done by a professional, and I don't have to have it done. Strads and Amatis don't decrease in value because of multiple refinishes.

Here endeth the rant...

I don't disagree, unfortunately the market does. Like you said, if you are looking for a "player" who cares. I'm not buying as a collector, but I'm also not buying as just a "player". I imagine many folks want non-refinished guitars so that when the time comes to sell (as most seem to do) its not hard to do and there is a chance that the guitar may have appreciated a bit.

[rpjazzguitar]

I think there's something magical, for want of a better word, to have, say, a 30s L5 that is exactly the way it came from the factory.

I can't justify that rationally, but that's the way I feel about it.

If the same guitar has a beat-to-crap finish on it, it already doesn't look like a factory original, so the magic is reduced. At that point, I guess I'm indifferent to a new finish.

A guitar to play every day is something else. If I had my Holy Grail 1939 Blond L5, I'd be afraid to take it out of the case at home (although I would) and I'd probably never take it on a gig.

[ThatRhythmMan]

One absolute telltale sign of overspray or refinish of an archtop that is almost shocking how often it is seen is finish residue on the inside of the back. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it and it’s one of the easiest things to prevent. Obviously these things are often done following a preferred procedure, but when you see it, rest assured that some post-factory finish is present.

A black light is most helpful when only a portion of the guitar has been refinished. It’s possible, although probably only a handful of people really have the skill, for a really well done complete refinish to be done well enough to evade almost all detection short of chemical analysis.