That is the new recessed humx ring fit on the bass now. My dad was actually already a little worried about the brass ring interfering with the hum cancelling, but got that worked out. I think we should steer clear of the completely concealed humx and just let it do its job. We could make a thin wooden plate that would not affect the humcancelling. I actually think the little brass ring looks cool - it really looks like a vintage Alembic that way to me.
It's neat you can still see the old finish in the bottom of the cavities, glad you noticed.
Steve, refinishing from us ain't cheap at $750, but we do completely strip the old paint off, sand out and scratches or dings in the wood and refinish with clear or tinted paint. It also includes a fret mill and cleaning the brass parts. It makes the bass look and play like new. Here's the tough part for you: we need it for at least 6-8 weeks. Maybe with your Spoiler you could part with your first love for a couple of months, but that might be a wee traumatic for you.
