new tele what now?

[calum paterson]

Hi guys

I just got a Tele the other day. Beautiful. Carved top, hollow, 1 f hole, mahogany, flame maple, H-S-S, Wilkinson tremolo, and standard Tele controls. so as this is my first build I have a couple questions. I was thinking of just keeping it a natural finish with gold hardware or blue with gold but it said (on the info bit) I have to fill the open pores how and what do I use to do that? and I was going to go for either all maple neck or mahogany with Indian rosewood fretboard that shouldn't be a problem should it? (< may be a stupid question but it's my first build)

Thanks
Calum

 

[AutoBat]

Welcome to the board
The product you're looking for is called Grain Filler.  It fills in the pores so any finish you apply can be nice & smooth.
I'm in the school of "Any neck you choose will be fine." Opinions vary on this topic.
Oh yeah, almost forgot! We have a saying around here, Pics or it doesn't exist!

 

[Cagey]

It should probably be pointed out that there's a huge difference between "grain filler" and "wood filler". You won't find grain filler at the hardware or Lowes or Home Depot or anyplace like that. You need to go someplace where fine finishing products are sold.

Grain filler is sorta like paint, and even comes in colors. It's much finer than wood filler, and depending on the wood it may take several application/removal steps to work its magic. Some brands you'll see are Colortone, Behlen, Crystalac and Timbermate. There's some search results here if you're interested.

 

[calum paterson]

Thanks guys. I'll post some pics soon

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'm gonna have to do the same thing with grain filler when I start a Warmoth Tele project. It will have a swamp ash body.
I've never used grain filler before, so I'm gonna need all the advice I can get.