Troll, that would normally be good advice. However, neither out in the "sticks" where I now live, nor in any town for 75 miles (and probably farther) in any direction is there a "good repair shop" to be found. This is why I have turned to the collective knowledge and experience of the Mudcat community.

Don, I fully agree that the original finish should be maintained unless there are extreme circumstances because of which refinishing is the only option. As I indicated, the face and the back have already been sanded down to the bare wood. Therefore, refinishing appears to be necessary.