Vibra-Artiste De Luxe - restore or leave as is?

[noelford]

I suppose it helps to take into consideration how a guitar becomes 'road worn'. If it is in rough condition because it has been treated with no respect, I'd probably want to restore it. If it has simply succumbed to many years of hard and honest use, I'd prefer to give it a really good clean and leave it at that. Ecca refers to the problem of keeping an eye on resale value - a good point. If the guitar is purchased as an investment and not to be played, then it does make sense not to devalue it, but if it's one you intend to keep and play then you should do whatever you want to it to get the best out of it. As for paying good money for a new guitar that has been deliberately disfigured... well, don't get me started! In fact, a thought occurs to me. In many years time when today's 'roadworn' guitars become genuine vintages, how would you go about restoring them?!

[Bluesnote]

I suppose it helps to take into consideration how a guitar becomes 'road worn'. If it is in rough condition because it has been treated with no respect, I'd probably want to restore it. If it has simply succumbed to many years of hard and honest use, I'd prefer to give it a really good clean and leave it at that. Ecca refers to the problem of keeping an eye on resale value - a good point. If the guitar is purchased as an investment and not to be played, then it does make sense not to devalue it, but if it's one you intend to keep and play then you should do whatever you want to it to get the best out of it. As for paying good money for a new guitar that has been deliberately disfigured... well, don't get me started! In fact, a thought occurs to me. In many years time when today's 'roadworn' guitars become genuine vintages, how would you go about restoring them?!

Well all I can say to that one Noel is...We'll all be dead and buried when/if that time comes round so it wont really matter to me
Hugh.

[Billyboygretsch]

I had a similar dilemma in a way it was fortunate that there had been a strip back and poor front paint finish. I decided to go the restore route. So far have had tremolo replated gold. New gold knobs being engraved have new pickguard made as there were some breakages. Yours looks in good condition though. Personally i believe these guitars were designed and built to look good with the gold nice and shiny would get gold restored but leave the rest then make further decisions later Nice example where did you get it.

[Billyboygretsch]

Can send you a template for the truss rod cover if you send me your address. The tremolo seems extremely close to the edge of the guitar. The guitar in its current state holds the history, which may be nothing spectacular,but it was not designed to look like this. Unfortunately you cannot buy these models new. Burns Fender Gibson all offer their best selling versions in new options so there is a choice. If you restore it you can always make it look older. There is not too much value in these guitars not like fender or Gibson you know what you paid for it and the rough values of others that have sold. Cost of restoring parts and quality respray is going to cost around £800 so it would probably end up costing you less than Custom Shop models from major maanufacturers. Guess this post has not helped you much. Good luck with whatever you choose to do exciting having to make these kind of decisions.

[mgeek]

+1 on leaving it well alone.

That you'd end up paying good money to decimate it's value aside, I think I've only seen one other of these with the original paint to maybe 4 or 5 resprayed ones. For whatever reason most of them seem to have been refinned, so it's really nice to see a good, honest 50+ year old example looking it's age.

Wonderful looking guitar, enjoy it and resist the urge to tinker!

Ecca refers to the problem of keeping an eye on resale value - a good point. :

Sorry, but in my opinion that's not a good point at all as it works from the assumption that keeping something original can only be motivated by wanting to retain it's financial value, Not so. There's the historical and aesthetic appeal of the total originality of these things to consider as well.

[mgeek]

One other thought...these guitars are likely to still be kicking about in 100+ years, if taken care of. We are only their temporary owners, so imo it's never cool to be 'that guy' who thought the glorious, factory original nitrocellulose paint was 'a bit tatty' and stripped it and resprayed in the wrong shade, wrong paint...etc.

I decided to go the restore route. So far have had tremolo replated gold.

Mind letting on where you got this done/how much it cost etc? I'n working on an early Fenton Weill that's lost all it's plating. (total rebuild and 'put back to original' after several incredibly shit refinishes )

[burnsbonkers]

Hi there...
LEAVE AS IS!
I'm 100percent with MGEEK on this one.
V.artiste deluxe guitars are rare, and although the urge is there ...you'll devalue and strip it of It's history.
The guitar IS a snapshot of history!
Please take into consideration how naff a 1961-2 guitar would look with brand new paint on it.

If you want a shiny new guitar, there's plenty in the shops today.
All I'd advise, is have it set up to play well ,and a good clean.

[burnsbonkers]

And although it may sound contradictory saying that such an old guitar would look bad with new paint on, with the example I have now and the other one I had.: I was left with no choice as they had already been stripped, so I had to have them refinished.

[shakedown]

After all your kind words of advice and suggestions, I was still in two minds, but Burnsbonkers' use of capital letters has swayed it! Plus the thought of not having to add £800 to the bill...

It's not even that dirty, so even stripping it to clean might not be worth the effort and risk (of damage). But how long will I resist?

Thanks

[mgeek]

It's not even that dirty, so even stripping it to clean might not be worth the effort and risk (of damage). But how long will I resist?

Good call! Yeah...from that one shot it doesn't really look like it needs touching, at all.

Any chance of posting some more pics? Would love to see more...has it got a bound neck?