Couldn't resist making a start on the ST-1

[jonwhitear]

Your burst looks good. I believe the ST-1 is basswood, so you should be OK without filling the pores, because it shouldn’t really have any. What sort of finish are you putting on it?

[McCreed]

Your burst looks good. I believe the ST-1 is basswood, so you should be OK without filling the pores, because it shouldn’t really have any. What sort of finish are you putting on it?

I would usually agree with the statement, but having a closer look at that body photo (open in new tab and zoom) and there is some significant open grain grain on that IMO. Certainly the most open I've seen on basswood.

I don't have any advice that's not not going to involve sanding it back, grain filling then re-staining. The only way forward from here that I could see is an absolute s**t-tonne of clear coat until it's filled and then levelling the clear.

Whilst that is doable, it's not without its pitfalls. A clear coat that thick will take ages to cure, and could get expensive with the quantity it may require. Maybe a UV-cured poly would solve the cure time issue, but UV-cured poly ain't cheap.

Hopefully someone else will have a different opinion and/or better advice.