Talk me out of (or into) refinishing a '98 MIJ Marcus Miller

Juggernaught

Juggernaught

Supporting Member
Apr 17, 2007
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Redmond, WA
#1
I have a '98 (corrected from 85-86) MIJ Marcus Miller Bass (s/n A0XXXXX). Original electronics and PUs. The body is in OK shape: the finish is scratched, chipped, and cracked in several places. I'm on the fence on either selling it as parts for someone else to put a bunch of work into or make it a project of my own then selling it.

I'm more on the crafty / DIY side, and I'm thinking strip of the old clear coat and paint it solid white. New pick guard from pickguardplanet. Neck has a few dings but is otherwise fine and too much work to do anything about. I'm sure someone will want an 90s MIJ jazz like this. I've never actually gone through refinishing an instrument but the steps seem easy enough (though the whole thing takes several weeks).

Experiences people want to share? I'm on the fence on doing this so I could be pushed either way. Parts I'm guessing nobody will give me more than $300 (likely less), but will I end up putting more money in than I'm likely to get back?
 
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#7
Juggernaught said:
I have a '98 (corrected from 85-86) MIJ Marcus Miller Bass (s/n A0XXXXX). Original electronics and PUs. The body is in OK shape: the finish is scratched, chipped, and cracked in several places. I'm on the fence on either selling it as parts for someone else to put a bunch of work into or make it a project of my own then selling it.

I'm more on the crafty / DIY side, and I'm thinking strip of the old clear coat and paint it solid white. New pick guard from pickguardplanet. Neck has a few dings but is otherwise fine and too much work to do anything about. I'm sure someone will want an 90s MIJ jazz like this. I've never actually gone through refinishing an instrument but the steps seem easy enough (though the whole thing takes several weeks).

Experiences people want to share? I'm on the fence on doing this so I could be pushed either way. Parts I'm guessing nobody will give me more than $300 (likely less), but will I end up putting more money in than I'm likely to get back?
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I'll give you $300 right now, plus shipping, for the collection of parts to make the bass. I would love to take on that project.

Just so you know, the Marcus Miller signature shot up in price a few years back. I have seen used ones going for $1500+. You honestly do not even need to do any work to it to make it worth your while to sell.
 
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#8
DiabolusInMusic said:
Just so you know, the Marcus Miller signature shot up in price a few years back. I have seen used ones going for $1500+. You honestly do not even need to do any work to it to make it worth your while to sell.
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Wow, thanks for the info. I honestly didn't do too much work looking into the prices in now-bucks, but it certainly seems worth doing the refinish.
 
#10
I just had an ‘06 Skjold refinished. I was getting jones for another 6 string and decided to renew my vows instead.

I sprung for a premium Pat Wilkins job and still spent a fraction of what I might have to replace it and it came out so well that it feels 100% new to me. Totally worked out.

I recommend the refinish.
 
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#12
Are you interested in return on investment, or gaining experience? If it’s the money and you’ve never done a refinish and are not tooled up to do one, you will most likely do better to just spiff it up with some cleaner and elbow grease and sell it. If OTOH, you want the experience, have at it. Just take it step by step and be careful with your cash outlay and you might be able to gain both experience and a little extra pocket money.
 
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#14
fhm555 said:
return on investment, or gaining experience
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I'd say both would be ideal. I enjoy having a vision and working on something, though there's always a risk of things going south when doing things the first time. I do have most, if not all, of the tools people recommend: heat gun, orbital sander, etc.

But the truth is that this bass is destined for someone else. I'm not a big fan of ash, really prefer a natural finish on the fretboard, and the yellow clear coat over the ash looks, to my eye, fugly.

A buff wouldn't accomplish a good end-result I think: there's several chips / gouges in the finish. I could fill them but on the other hand, people actually like these basses so maybe it deserves a bit more?
 
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#15
Juggernaught said:
I'd say both would be ideal. I enjoy having a vision and working on something, though there's always a risk of things going south when doing things the first time. I do have most, if not all, of the tools people recommend: heat gun, orbital sander, etc.

But the truth is that this bass is destined for someone else. I'm not a big fan of ash, really prefer a natural finish on the fretboard, and the yellow clear coat over the ash looks, to my eye, fugly.

A buff wouldn't accomplish a good end-result I think: there's several chips / gouges in the finish. I could fill them but on the other hand, people actually like these basses so maybe it deserves a bit more?
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A buff is not something I'd do unless it was a complete refinish. IME if it's playable and more than 20 years old with no serious gouges in the wood, most people looking for distressed instruments would prefer the original finish with excess crud buildup removed, especially if it's lacquer.
 
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#18
Altitude said:
I just had an ‘06 Skjold refinished. I was getting jones for another 6 string and decided to renew my vows instead.

I sprung for a premium Pat Wilkins job and still spent a fraction of what I might have to replace it and it came out so well that it feels 100% new to me. Totally worked out.

I recommend the refinish.
Click to expand...
Did you do a thread with before/after?
Very curious
 
#20
I’d just sell it and move on.

I looked into the MM back around the time this one was made. I found them to be heavy, slathered polyurethane finish, and the whole active section and pickguard looked like somebody went all DIY on it.

Plenty of Marcus fans out there who would love to have it just like it is.

If you want to get your DIY fix by doing a refinish, there are plenty of FSO out there for cheap.
 
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