Does original paint greatly affect value?

[Guest]

Not sure if this is the right forum. I collect guitars and original paint is almost half the value.
What about bikes? Does it matter? My '78 has the original paint on the tank and side panels. If I re-paint it, doe sit affect the value? Or is that sacrilege like it is with old guitars?
Cheers!

[Octain]

Not sure if this is the right forum. I collect guitars and original paint is almost half the value.
What about bikes? Does it matter? My '78 has the original paint on the tank and side panels. If I re-paint it, doe sit affect the value? Or is that sacrilege like it is with old guitars?
Cheers!

You have painted side covers on a 78 GS1000??

[tatu]

You have painted side covers on a 78 GS1000??

I think the very first ones with the silver '1000 dohc' badge had a satin finish.

[subid]

Not sure if this is the right forum. I collect guitars and original paint is almost half the value.
What about bikes? Does it matter? My '78 has the original paint on the tank and side panels. If I re-paint it, doe sit affect the value? Or is that sacrilege like it is with old guitars?
Cheers!

I have collected guitars as well and I don't believe repainting a bike will detract from the value like it does with guitars, or any other collectible.

As with any collectible, like new original condition brings the best price.

GS bikes aren't highly collectible, when compared to early year Honda 750s and Kawasaki 900s.

You will get more for a showroom condition original paint job, but respraying a tattered bike will probably increase the value.

[capnjim]

Thanks..my paint is OK, but lots of scratches and one big dent. The side panels are matching blue..its a '78 GS750. I did the back cowl myself. I bought a very good quality car paint from a car paint shop. I think its probably worth the extra bucks over a Wal-mart/Canadian tire car paint.
I'm thinking of re-painting it over the winter. I was very impressed with the rattle can job I did on the cowl and I think I could do a really good job on the tank.
I love orange and was thinking some kind of orange with black pinstripes.

[gbw]

I don't think the side covers on a 78 GS750 were painted. At least on my 77 they are just black plastic. I think they were same on the 77, 78, and 79. If your side covers are painted I'd suspect that your bike has been painted before.

Can you post pics?

Love the early GS750s!

[sedelen]

Yeah, these bike are not like the vintage '60 Stratocasters or Gibson Les Pauls.
I painted my GS1000, it looks allot better, I'm sure it didn't bring the value down, as it was close to rock bottom anyway .

[sedelen]

Go to the beginning of the thread and check out these paint jobs just for grins. We should all have bikes with such outstanding work!

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=197738&page=2

[nvr2old]

I think an original paint job that's really nice will hold the value well, even if it's a tiny bit faded, like Chuck's gold 750. To repaint that would've been a crime, but if it's scratched up, peeling decals, or dented, then the new paint will greatly enhance the value over the original. I could be a bit biased, though..

I've painted a lot of brand new hand built guitars, too. They're a bitch to do, in lacquer, but beautiful when done correctly. As you mentioned people want their old guitars to have the original finish, even if it's all cracked and worn. I've even seen a lot of new guitars with fake patina just so people could have that worn look. I stopped doing them because it killed me to spend so many hours making them perfect only to hand one to a performer and have the finish thrashed in the course of one gig. Belt buckle scratches all over the back and stuff..made me wanna cry. I promised myself if I ever did another one, I never wanted to see it again after it was finished.

Here's a few that I did.

[capnjim]

Wow..those are some really beautiful guitars! You must have quite the pro set-up!

[bccap]

Wow..those are some really beautiful guitars! You must have quite the pro set-up!

He is a pro ! His tanks hang in the Louvre.

[Allie]

U chuddup U, with those guitars! I'm not supposed to be tempted!

The only GS bikes that approach collectability really are the 1000S and the (shudder) Katanas. Even those I'm not sure if original is highly prized over well restored. When you start looking at old Triumphs and such, that's another story.

I'm personally baffled at the 'pre stressed' instruments you can buy from Fender... Brand new repro amps in frayed tweed, guitars with nicks and chips 'expertly' applied at the factory.... all for a premium fee of course Sheesh just use an old antique dealer trick and throw some yogurt on it and let it sit a couple weeks lol.

[capnjim]

Thats great..I got totally conned when I bought this bike and probably paid 1000$ more than I should have.
I'll be happy to eliminate any trace of the scumbag previous owner!
This is what it looked like when I bought it. I have since changed the seat and taken off the fairing.
I'm in the process of restoring it mechanically and its still not running great.

By jimmypantz at 2012-05-05

By jimmypantz at 2012-05-05

[sedelen]

U chuddup U, with those guitars! I'm not supposed to be tempted!

The only GS bikes that approach collectability really are the 1000S and the (shudder) Katanas. Even those I'm not sure if original is highly prized over well restored. When you start looking at old Triumphs and such, that's another story.

I'm personally baffled at the 'pre stressed' instruments you can buy from Fender... Brand new repro amps in frayed tweed, guitars with nicks and chips 'expertly' applied at the factory.... all for a premium fee of course Sheesh just use an old antique dealer trick and throw some yogurt on it and let it sit a couple weeks lol.

Had a friend that bought a new Japanese Fender Stratocaster, a '62 Strat Reissue. He took the made in Japan stuff off of it. Then he took a file to the body, then a little sandpaper, then he tied a rope to it and drug it down the street. Then he came over and tried to sell it to me, and I said there isn't a price low enough to where I would buy it, he said $50 and I said sold. That was a great little guitar, the tone was awesome. I put some heavier gauge strings on it, elevens. Everyone wanted it, even my kids guitar instructor, if you ever get rid of it see me first. I got offers over $400 for it. It did look like an old vintage guitar, beat up but sounded great.

[capnjim]

yeah those relic guitars kill me. I call them belt sander specials.
None of them look real.
here's my bass that was abused....played 200 shows a year! It was used, numerous times, as a makeshift hockey stick!

By jimmypantz at 2011-10-28

By jimmypantz at 2011-10-28

By jimmypantz at 2011-10-28