r/guitarkits

I built a noname Strat kit years ago, but have always wanted a spalted maple LP style. Shit, I haven't even PLAYED an electric in years, I've just been kicking it with my Taylor acoustic.

This is a mahog body, mahog neck, and spalted maple top. I thought the headstock would come spalted veneer as well, but no luck. I'm looking for a piece, but I might go with mahogany veneer for that if I can't find spalted anywhere. I have a multipack of veneers from 20 years ago SOMEWHERE, so I'll see what's in there and looks best.

Didn't document the test fitting or neck glue-up, but it all went without note. I did a full workup on the neck/frets - first time ever. I followed a video I found, hopefully I didn't mess it up too bad.

Anyways. I'm at the point where I've got everything sanded. Plan is to stain the back DARK but not black. Neck and top are just getting tung oil. Back will be oiled as well. As you can see, I failed to thoroughly clean up all the glue from the neck joint, so I'll be trying to very carefully scrape some of that away so it absorbs the stain/oil. Time will tell.

Finishing with carnauba wax buffed to as much of a shine as possible. I don't have the setup to do any spraying, plus I really like the "waxed/oiled wood" look.

Going with Wilkinson tuners and electronics, all in black. Using stock black bridge.

My first attempt at building a guitar from a kit. I’ve now bought two more kits, a spalted maple with black hardware, and a hollow body with gold. I’ve also got some mango wood drying in the workshop. I’d say I’ve caught the bug!

Here’s my next two kits. Hopefully I’ll start soon. I keep getting distracted building pedals in between.

I got this kit with a beautiful ash burl veneer, but it's paper thin and I'm getting stressed out thinking about working with it, ha. I've gone back and forth in my mind so many times, so I figured I'd ask here. Should I grain fill before staining? I'm concerned about sanding through the veneer or moisture lifting the veneer. I'm planning to stain it a light blue or turquoise.

This is my first project like this, but I've watched a bunch of videos but did not find much on thin veneers. Though, Brad Angove actually has one with this exact kit; he grain filled at the end with a bronze powder and removed/cleaned up excess and with tung oil, which also colored it. He sanded, water base stain, sanded, sprayed lacquer/stain mix, bronzing powder, tung oil, and then sealed with vinyl sealer and nitro.

I would simply follow that but I don't see how it'd work with the color I want and I don't have a sprayer. I had scrap wood I can practice on and test, but I don't have a veneer to practice on and I assume it'd react different. Previous example sanded twice and used water but warned to be careful with both.

My plan:

• Sand to remove poly resin sealant
• Apply water based grain filler (Some videos said seal before hand?) (Color may be ebony, or rosewood/mahogany - I think it'd darken with the blue and mesh well? I'm color blind... lol. Maybe something lighter for a less stark contrast?)
• Sand to leave filler only in the grain
• Apply sanding sealer?
• Apply water based blue stain
• Apply wipe on satin poly

Any thoughts, advice, or feedback? I'd like the grain to pop a little but don't exactly want a super stark contrast or busy guitar. I'm excited but over analyze and stress -- it's a me problem... and my poor wife's...