How to finish?

[Automatic L.]

Hey guys, my first thread here.
I'm just gettin' started on a project and i need some advice on how to finish the neck and body.
Not looking at solid colour finishes. Probably natural finish, with a Mahogany stain.
For the neck, preferably no gloss... Do i just apply sealant?
Any advice? Thanks!

[Automatic L.]

Bump! Pros please help?

[PixMix]

Ask here (http://www.tdpri.com/forum/index.php) under Finally Finished.

[cherrick]

OK, you're going to want to spend some time at ReRanch.com on their forums. Aks your questions there, the folks are experts and helpful.

I suggest that you consider Tru-Oil for the neck. Use Tru-Oil on the back of the neck and on the fretboard if the fretboard is maple.

I suggest that you consider several very thin layers of Nitro-Cellulose on the body. Do the body in this order:
(1) grain sealer - lots if the wood is swamp ash
(2) color mixed into clear nitro-cellulose for the color coats
(3) a few coats of clear nitro-cellulose over the color coats

Don't stain the wood. If you want to redo or change, you're screwed. Put the grain sealer on first, maybe a clear coat of nitro-cellulose next, follow with your color nitro coats and finish with clear nitro. If you have to redo, change or start over you'll be happy you did this.

MyLesPaul.com has a specific luthier forum that can be helpful, but undeniably the most help will come from the ReRanch forums. And you can buy your Nitro products from ReRanch if you choose.