Topic: Bringing guitar in for cosmetic surgery

[hans]

I'm thinking of bringing my old Taylor (my first acoustic) in for cosmetic surgery to make her prettier. I've been playing her more lately but she's feeling plain next to all the others.

I'm thinking of getting rid of the fretboard markers, replacing them with ebony dots to match the fretboard making them almost invisible. Then I'm going to remove the ugly pick guard. I'm also thinking of getting her Koa earrings (tuners).

Left is current, right is GIMP'd simulation (without the earrings).

[jkim]

Ooh.  I approve.

[hans]

OK, I got harassed on the guitar forum for not including the Koa tuners.

So,,

[hans]

I think it make it look like a completely different guitar. A bit more my style.

[KnuckleBuckett]

Nice.  Warmer feel to it.

 

[hans]

Now the debate is on for which tuners to go with.

Koa (on the left) and match the body
or
Rosewood (on the right) and match the headplate.

Guy on the guitar forum did some color correction that I thought was better. (I have so much to learn about photography)

[Perspective]

Looks nice, but I've always liked the shape of Taylor pick guards.

[hans]

Oh she'll most likely have a tan line where the pick guard used to be. Since the guitar is almost 10 years old it'll may never completely blend out. Not really sure how noticeable it'll be. I'm not worried about that though since I just want to get rid of the cheesy tortoise shell. If I really wanted to go nuts I'd look into changing the rosette too but I don't want to go that crazy.
I need to get a new saddle too 'cause my current one is just barely above the bridge which makes the guitar super easy to play but crazy finicky with humidity. Really I'm just trying to get this guitar back into regular rotation. Then it'd be easier for me to sell two of my other guitars and get a 000 or 00 12 fret model. Or start building one.