Making the grain pop

[Bundy1964]

Cheers dude

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[Simon Barden]

'Lightly' being the operative word. The veneer isn't very thick, typically 0.5mm-0.6mm. You can't sand back too far before you start to sand through to the glue layer, which won't take the stain well. So sand very gently with minimal pressure and at least P240 grit.

So bear that in mind when applying the dark stain. You don't want it too strong/wet or it will soak right through all the veneer and you'll never sand through to unstained wood.

[Bundy1964]

The top on this body is thicker than standard veneer.
I will take a pic tommorow and show you all

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[Simon Barden]

I thought that on a kit I once had, but it just looked like it and the veneer was the standard thickness upon closer inspection. I doubt very much that it is anything but standard thickness, but would be delighted for you if it was thicker.

[McCreed]

I agree with Simon. I can be deceiving.
Have a closer look in the side of the pickup cavities and wet it with some metho. The metho should make it easier to see the delineation between the veneer and body wood.

If it has a carved top, they can "appear" to have a "cap". That is how my PRS1-TS looked but it was just a sandwich of basswood with the veneer fixed to the carved top.

[Bundy1964]

Ok
On having a closer look in the control cavity, it seems to be a veneer only..

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[McCreed]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Yes, that's what my Tiger Stripe Maple top looked like.
There's a definite layer of timber between the veneer and main body piece (alder in your case).

However, I will say that you don't need to be overly afraid of sanding the veneer, just be sensible. Don't go at it with a power tool and 80 grit paper!
IMO hand-sanding with 240, you'd almost have to try to burn through the veneer. As it's maple, it doesn't require any grain filling and shouldn't need that much sanding full stop.

Even with doing a black coat first, if you follow Simon's advice about not saturating the veneer, you should be fine.

Looking forward to seeing your progress!