I managed to get the top and sides stained last night.
Not sure what the colortone seller diluted with, but the only thing that gets it off my fingers was acetone lol. I've since found some gloves.

It seems to be staying on ok, though it's requiring a fair bit of rubbing to get it consistent. The sides are a lot more work. It doesn't take quite so consistently and needs a few passes to start getting it consistent.
I've gone over the sides again this morning and done the back - there was about 30 mins just in going over the back twice. Subsequent layers aren't making it any darker but are at least helping get it more consistent.

Later today I'll get back around the edges again.

Headstock was cut last night - loosely based on a Jazz bass, and given a quick belt with the sander to fix the edging up. Still needs more work, but it's a start. It looks like it was pre-drilled for the vintage style tuners I'm not using. I'll knick down to the supermarket at some stage, find some toothpicks and attempt to fill the holes up and sort them out. I don't see any point in sanding much more until I've sorted that out.