Cut Hole in Side of New D-35 for Preamp: Ethics and Methods

[David Reilly]

Thanks, Frank, for setting this up. Hello forum members.
Part 1. Ethics
I have a job offered to me thru one of the companies I work for. A gentleman has purchased a brand new Martin D-35 and wants a Fishman Prefix Plus T installed. I have no ability to contact him directly. Now if for example, someone called and said "please put a floyd rose in my 57 strat", I could politely tell them "no!" and with several good reasons. But, I looked at this beautiful guitar and thought, is there any reason to value this guitar any less than one made in the 30s 40s 50s or 60s? Someday, it will be that old. Will someone look at it and say, "Why the #### did they put that preamp on the side of that beautiful instrument???" or "Gee, remember when they used to do that? (chuckle)". I know, as Dr John said, if I don't do it, somebody else will (Mr Glyn?). And nothing against Fishman, they make great stuff. I just have a problem with the invasive and IMHO unnecessary nature of this modification, on such a gorgeous, solid rosewood guitar.
I would love to hear from the members of this forum on the subject.

Part 2 of this topic: Methods.
I have not done this job before. If I decide to do this, Fishman recommends a Fein Pneumatic Detailing Sander w/ 2.5" diameter saw blade to cut the hole. I have a Makita that should work, with the right blade, but, how about a small X-acto saw? Any other thoughts or cautions on this job? I am going to carve up a practice guitar a bit anyway, whether I do the Martin or not.
Thanks folks, I would appreciate any kind of input on the above.

[Robbie Collins]

I wouldn't sweat altering a new guitar. It's the buyers choice and he or she should know that altering a guitar will effect its value one way or another. If I thought I could suggest a less invasive and better sounding solution then I'd try to send a message through the referring company. Then again, the owner may be a working musician and this may be their tool of choice.

Guitars, on average, depreciate until they become vintage instruments. This guitar, once altered may depreciate faster at first then appreciate slower after if becomes collectable. Then again, there may be a future buyer out there looking for modded vintage guitar.

[Russell Vance]

Hello David,

Firstly, I don't view this question as one of ethics: that would infer that installing pre-amps in the side of instruments was <morally or philosophically wrong>.   This is not the case as the major makers of both expensive and inexpensive and beautiful and not so beautiful instruments have been installing these systems for ions and are likely to continue to do so.  So the installation of a pre-amp in this manner is not morally or philosophically wrong. 

Badly executing the job, is however , very wrong and the manufacturers installation guide and tech sheets are a mandatory "tick" here.

Secondly,  the D35 is not an instrument that is about to go rare anytime soon and neither is it particularly expensive.   Any loss of long term value is likely to be insignificant when the numbers made vs time in service are taken into account. It also belongs to someone else who, as a customer, has chosen to configure his tool of trade.  

We are not talking about cutting holes in coffee tables here or repainting the Mona Lisa - we are simply determining the best way to install a component for a customer who requires and contracts to have a job done.   The custom car dudes have been hacking up 57 Chevs for as long as I can remember and concomitantly hack up 2012 Camaros with no moral or ethical dramas.    Nobody bats an eyelid except the lock-em-away and don't use em collectors who's main focus is generally money, not performance.  This is aside from the genuine and passionate individuals who collect original items to maintain for posterity which is something to be applauded.

My understanding of the Trades tells me that technicians can advise if there is a better way or a better performing alternative system but after that should park their prejudices and personal preferences at the door to their workshop and either take the job or politely decline it without comment or judgement.

Rusty. 

[Paul Verticchio]

Just curious.....

Why are all of these old threads being reopened? This one is almost 4 1/2 years old and I seriously doubt that it is still relevant to the OP. The OP hasn't had a presence on this forum for over a year & a half.

I encourage all of us to officially "close" our discussions when they've run their useful course.

(:

[David Reilly]

Hi all. Your opinions are important to me now as they were then. However it has been awhile since I posed the questions (and duly noted your answers), so unless anyone has anything to add, I now declare this thread... closed. Is that how you do it?

[Paul Verticchio]

Hi David. 

This was just a general question and was directed at no specific person or post.  There's been a plethora of old post activity of late.

As the OP, you should see an "options" box or something similar on the 1st page of your post.  Click it & you'll get a drop down menu that will allow you to close the discussion.

It's just that things/procedures/techniques change so rapidly nowadays that timeliness is an extremely relevant factor in our responses.

Rusty's response was great and worth the 'rehash', so there is a silver lining(:

Take care man (:

P