The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

I've got the opportunity to get an Intruder 5. Seems in good enough condition though I don't know how it sounds - any evaluation would need some TLC for an hour first since it has been stored for a decade or so.

The question (if I get it) is "Restore" or "Trick"

First step is always "Restore" to check, involving:
remove the rusted strings
clean I wipe the fret board
check & buff up the frets
clean out and lube the bridge & screws (unscrew, clean:lube:reattach.
Patch the nick on the body (forest green modelling paint?)
De-ox on the pots
Pull pups and check, grounding (ground posts if required - common failing on many guitars)
Polish out bridge saddles and nut, Chap-stick + graphite polish
11-49 D'Addario Rock/Jazz strings

Go into the shooting gallery and see what it is suitable for (Question: Metal : Rock : Blues?)

Assuming the pickups pass muster - any opinions on these out there? comparisons?

Restore or Darken

Darken
Drop in Epiphone 57 pickups with a touch up to the pickup covers
Some ebony staining to darken the rosewood of the neck
Some lacquer mixed with deep bronze - wipe on and wipe off quickly (fills nooks, crannies for a darker aged look)
DR Black Beauties (light ones)
Slightly darken the cap (add a .010uF Orange Drop cap ,022 + .010 -> .032 dark...)
Bore oil on the fret-board (coat, work in, soak, wipe, repeat)
Add push-pull - in Pull putts pickups inn series (even darker)

Bright Restore
Leave
Bore oil on the neck (repeat)
DR Red Devils to match the red dots (optional)
Wax & buff that body * headstock up...

Assuming I do get it.... once I've oiled the fretboard (dry dry dry from storage) it won't be taking any stain, and once I wax/buff it won't be getting a Lacquer treatment.
Either way is "one way"... what would you do?

I'd be getting it Saturday.. and there is no snow to ski.

What would you do?

I would do the minimum to get it playable and evaluate it from there. The pups should be good but may need to be potted.