Rosettes.

[Mr Bee]

So, I have been looking around for an acoustic guitar.

I have found a Tanglewood that I like, but I dislike the rosette. Could I change it? And how?

Thanks.
Ben.

[Glennwillow]

Hi Ben,

I don't know.... There are companies that make decals that you can cover up your rosette with something else, similar to this: http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/guitar-rosettes.html

It may look kind of cheesy... maybe not...

- Glenn

[architype]

I'm sure a luthier could change it for you, but it might be cost prohibitive.

[zabdart]

I second what architype said. Look at what's involved in changing your rosette.
First the finish around that area of the top must be removed. Then the area for the new rosette must be routed. The new rosette has to be built from scratch and then inlaid into the routing. Finally, once all that is done, the new finish must be applied in such a way so as to appear that nothing happened.
The labor costs alone will kill you. By the time you've paid for all that, you may as well buy another guitar.

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Mr Bee

I have found a Tanglewood that I like, but I dislike the rosette. Could I change it? And how?

Mr. Bee, chances are very good that it would cost as much to replace the rosette as it did to buy the guitar. Perhaps more. And that's only if you could find a guitar tech willing to do the work, which is questionable. I know both of the repairmen I work with would probably turn you down flat.

A far more practical (and infinitely easier and less expensive) solution would be to get one of these soundhole rosette "inlay decals" from this company:

http://www.inlaystickers.com/servlet...ick/Categories

Here's a herringbone purfling sticker:



Here's one in "abalone":




Not knowing your tastes, I don't know what you'd like. But at $8.50 a rosette sticker, it's obviously much cheaper.

So take a look at your other choices on that website, and see if there's anything you like.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[HHP]

As long as you're playing it, you'll never see the rosette so why worry.