I recently bought a Gibson mandocello with a warm, resonant sound but badly mismatched top, sides and back thanks to an earlier amateurish refinish job. I would like to have at least the top stripped and refinished, but some local players cautioned me against it, saying that if I like the way the instrument sounds I should leave it as it is. Can a refinish job change an instrument's sound that much? And wouldn't a refinish done by a competent luthier make it sound at least as good as it does now with god-knows-what sprayed on the top?
Thanks for any advice you folks might have.
Jonathan
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