The Steel Guitar Forum

F holes would be a bad idea.

If you ever tried to sell it somebody would surely ask who put these F'n holes in this guitar?

Now you might consider those fake bullet holes instead.

Mike , don't touch it. It looks awesome just the way it is.
BD

I suggest silhouette art, or a music score. But perhaps a Mondrian style geometric design.

Silhouette of a musician playing for a young lady would have a romantic but classy emotional message.

The music score might be too much of a cliche.

But simple strips of black with some rectangles filled with color would convey modernity and culture simultaneously.

Mike,

With your classical music audience in mind, how about some staves and notes, in a wavy shape, across the front of the guitar. One set in basic black, another set interwoven through the first, this time in gold. Might just set that beautiful MSA off just perfectly. Alternatively, black and red would also work, since they're the colours of the MSA logo.

If you can get a pinstripe artist to laser-cut the decals, they'd be easily removed and I think they'd be most appropriate.

The notes might even be the introduction to a famous classical piece, bearing in mind many of your audience will almost certainly read music.

Venus of Mille!

Painting is a VERY BAD idea. The surface has a minimal amount of porasity to it and will suck up some of the paint. You might be able to remove the paint, but it will leave a "ghost" shadow of what was painted there...especially on a white surface.
Use pin striping tape or adhesive backed graphics...all you will have to do is remove some residual adhesive if you decide to remove the art work.

I think a tight knit Berber might be more in line here

Do a search on e-bay for vinyl decals. I have a white Excel that I play Hawaiian music on.
I picked up a couple sets of Vinyl flowers and put them across the front of the guitar.
On the opposite corner from the Excel logo, I put my name on it in vinyl letters.
These can all be taken off should you choose to change or sell the guitar.

I vote for the pinstriping. Check out some auto detailers for some understated stripes and curlyques. Black or a combination of black and red striping would look awesome.

Somebody has a pinstriped Carter for sale in the classifieds. Perhaps not that elaborate, but on that order.

"This Space For Rent".

added chrome strip to mine.Hated blue pedal bar, so bought a roll of chrome fablon and covered it.will get proper chrome one when I can afford it.

How about a public service message like:
Save the seals...
Or..Polar Bears, Whales...
Eat More Chicken or
Where's the Beef

Or you could sell or rent the space out...

Have your pet spayed or neutered, followed by a picture of a sad looking kitten...

Just kidding Mike, I think it's just fine as it is, elegant and appropriate for your targeted audience.

Actually, I think it looks quite classy, and serious, and very ready to be onstage just the way it is.

Check this out for ideas:

http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv30 ... mview=grid

I especially like the mud-flap girls with cowboy hats!

Pin striping is easy, inexpensive, and just the right amount of decoration.

You could project a station wagon on it like i did with my Carter. Many people in a classical music audience can relate to that.

And Ken Metcalf, why would you want to put reflective stripes on your hula girl?

Fuzzy dice.

F hole decals on ebay . 3 auctions to choose from.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-Guitar-F-Hol ... 4398e4e17d

Mike, I'm sure there are truckstops out your way...

Please, don't. It's a classy, minimalist design that doesn't need to be ruined.

Thanks for all the ideas. I've narrowed it down to 3 possibilities, and whatever I do, it will be something that I can easily undo and restore the guitar t it's original appearance.

1: A chrome strip like Malcome's

2: Black pin striping like Roger's

3: a single decal of a rose, or perhaps an orchid, in the center of the guitar, like the one Buddy Emmons had on his white Sierra. (Does anybody have a picture of that guitar? I looked, but couldn't find one.)

pin stripes..

How about this across the front $$$$$$$$$ ?

-Chuck

I think a nice pin-striping around the border would set it of nicely. I did this to my black Sierra many years ago.

Or: you might put: "Will Work For Food"

I think the "f" hole decal idea is both HILARIOUS and quite appropriate.

It would look tasteful AND "classical", while at the same time those already familiar with the pedal steel would be "in" on the joke and would find it rather clever.

PLUS it would look cool sitting alongside cellos, violas & violins.

AND I've never seen it done before --which is more than I can say for pinstriping.

AND it would be easy to undo.

-GV