Next build - another tele!

[Simon Barden]

Though I haven't had any experience with doing it, my feeling is that brown oil paint in the grain filler is likely to form a semi-protective layer that the stain won't penetrate properly, or at least make an uneven stain take-up more likely. I'd certainly try this out on scrap wood first before doing it on the guitar. I don't know what stains you plan on using but a spirit-based stain is more likely to work over an oil-paint base than a water-based stain. And there's obviously far less grain raising of the wood with spirit-based stains compared to water-based ones.

[Groovyman32]

I'd certainly try this out on scrap wood first before doing it on the guitar.

Yeah I've done a lot of testing on scrap alder before going at it...

But you're both absolutely right. This is after step one of the stain:



The grain is not nearly has obvious compared to the ash body. But that's okay. It is what it is. And Mc, you're also right, it did go on blotchy at first. But I let it dry and went back at it and it's evened out enough.

My plan now is to let that dry over night and then knock back it with some light sanding. Then repeat the same but with red instead of brown.

I think knowing what I know now I probably would have chosen a different body wood. I'd read countless times that alder is preferred for solid colours so I knew what was going to happen. But sometimes you (I) don't learn until I actually see it for yourself.