Please advise the type of front face wood and a suitable varnish for refinishing it.

Hi Adam,
 
The top wood is Vermilion (aka Padauk). The whole build record for the bass is here.  
 
Our coating is a proprietary polyester. I would advise sanding it away and starting your refinish on bare wood. Then, it's probably best to use a finish product that you have the most experience with using.