That seems like a very nice piece of wood [well the front at least] it would seem a shame to cover it with a solid colour.
I've got a US Fender Tele that is a transparent crimson.[Pardon the finger marks all over it]
It's got the typical Fender Hi-gloss finish on it, but the grain is still visible beneath it, if it pops enough for you then go gloss, if you want to see more of the grain then, some sort of satin like finish would be better, dingo bone finishes fit that bill.
By the way, you don't need to stain the guitar prior to finishing it, you can always add colour/ tint to your finish of choice and just spray it on [this also makes it easier to re-do if you change your mind, as no colour would have impregnated the wood ].
Reply With Quote