The first thing to label with a new label-maker...

...is the label-maker itself.  So analogously, the first post in a blog about my spare time endeavours is about starting a blog!  

As an engineer at heart (and soon, by schooling), I can't help but tinker with things, question the status quo, and envision possibilities.  The endeavour that has sparked my interest in blogging about it is improving the aesthetics of my acoustic guitar.  Living on a student's budget, hiring a luthier to add a custom rosette and fretboard inlays would be out of the question.  

My guitar as-is: Art & Lutherie High-Gloss Spruce with Quantum I electronics. This photo was originally taken vertically, but I rotated it to maximize the screen usage on my monitor (hence the chopped off corners). The guitar sounds great but, to me, is cosmetically lacking: plain-old dot fret markers, standard pickguard shape, and a bulging plastic rosette that isn't even inlaid (it's a sticker).

Next post...how I will modify my guitar on a student's budget...