Multiscale 7 string veneer - Visible glue line

Hello everyone,

Moving the body of a thread I posted in the "Welcome" section to here, as a build diary.
I've been aware of this forum since I first found Pitbull Guitars a couple of years ago. Only just signed up yesterday after some lurking during my first build, a year or so ago.

Hoping some of you with more experience than myself might have some advice.

My first kit was a 27" 7-string. All mahogany body and neck, with a quilted maple veneer. (2019)

Long story short; I ended up with a second kit around the same time. Same woods, etc. This time, it's multiscale. (Very similar to the current SMS-7Q).

I've had this second kit sitting untouched since I started the first kit. I thought the exp from the first kit might help when doing the second.
I pulled it out the other day to start the work. Only after applying stain to the veneer, did I find a very visible glue line running down the front of the guitar, where the two pieces meet (See attached).

There was no issue with my first kit when applying the stain over this seam. Dingotone is used in both cases (Also attached). On the first kit, I also used tung oil after the red stain. Unsure if this helped mask this join, but I don't remember it ever being noticeable at any point during the build.

Are there any tips/tricks to fix this, or minimize it? Or is this just a factory flaw that I'll have to embrace?

Thanks for your time!

*I was directed to a few solutions others have applied to this problem that I will list below*
(Thanks Trevor Davies for linking these in the original thread!)

- https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.a...ad.php?t=11308
- https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.a...l=1#post218058
- https://www.buildyourownguitar.com.a...l=1#post208202

Having a read through these posts gives me hope. I kind of like the hairdryer option. Warm the glue and delicately scrape. I don't mind if I can still see it, I also wouldn't mind if it looked intentional, like a feature stripe. Up close, the line varies quite a bit in thickness and looks like a mistake ATM (less obvious in the photos than in person).

Have you tried anything yet? My fallback on marks like this is either a blue Sharpie or mixing up some artist's acrylic paint to try and hide the line.

You could add a stripe to hide it as you've mentioned. You could even use a pinstriping tape strip and clear over the top rather than mask or paint.

The veneer on these tops can sometimes be extremely thin and unfortunately the glue bleeds through. Its near impossible to correct. I used the wire brushes quite successfully. But you do need to be careful with the method you ultimately use.