First Time Build TLA-1

As soon as i have a kit t show you I will but this is my plan so far. Building a TLA-1 using a Dingotone Body Finish Kit – Nullarbor Ochre with Wilkinson Lic Vintage Tele Pickups. Never built a guitar before so this is my first. Plan on staining the body but leaving the neck and using Henna to stain the neck as well as the headstock. Not sure if i will Henna the fretboard yet going to see how well the stain sticks to the back. Not sure what Headstock shape I will use just yet. Any advice on getting the grain to "pop" would be really helpful.

Hey Ben, to pop the grain on the ash body I suggest you grain fill with dark timbermate like maybe ebony colour.
Then sand it all off and the dark grain filler should stand out when the stain goes on

Thanks man i will have a look and give it ago.

grain filling has probably been covered somewhere on the forum but I can't think where. Some of the builds go into some detail. try looking for Gav Turners STA-1 build was GOTM maybe 12 or so months ago (rough guess).
There should be a few tutorials on Youtube have a search.
Basically you sand the body to about 240 grit and make up a slurry of timbermate and water, not too soggy and not too hard, and apply it over the whole body - excluding cavities. You then let this filler dry at least overnight and then sand it off and continue sanding to about 320 or 400 grit, then its ready to stain.
The Timbermate will be available from most good hardwares and big green sheds

Cool man. Thanks. I will give that a shot and see what happens. Cant wait for my kit

Ben here's an under 6 minute video has some good pointers applying the timbermate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_64HWc3mj7E

Thanks. Got some walnut not ebony as it was recommended on a similar build I found.

no worries Ben, walnut timbermate will look excellent on the ash grain

Got my kit will update with pictures once I work out how to do that.

good stuff Ben. Do a mock build before you start. If you go to 'go advanced' button then 'manage attachments' button you can upload pics there. Pics have to be less than 1500 x 1500 resolution and below 1MB