you sure about that headstock if you dowel it it will limit you to a paint finish and doing a veneer Paul you very 1st finish will be you best but check the binding for cracks both mine had them which put the fox in the chicken coop , if you go with a stain or dye try keep it away from the binding both mine looked good until the stain and dye showed them up quite badly, maybe use a 6mm straight line vinyl tape on it will save you alot of hassle