Just wondering...can you leave a body unfinished?
Or, can you just put a coat or 2 of a clear minwax stain?

You can do anything you want. If you leave it unfinished, it will just get really grungy and icky looking with time....unless that's what you are into. I mean, a body is a big hunk-o-wood, it won't warp.

matters were ya live really, that'll effect what'll happen to it.

Generally a good idea to finish it, even veggy oil produces a finish that helps protect.

but you can by mat spray that'll seal it nicely without adjusting the look.

Thanks for the info...I'll play it a little safe and put on a few coats of minwax.

I don't think it'd matter near as much on an electric. I wouldn't say a body won't warp, cause I've seen pieces of wood a lot bigger than a body blank cup and bow like crazy. I think I'd be more worried about the neck moving around.

But yeah if you'd like to finish it, but still keep a "woody" kind of feel I'd go with tung oil or shellac.

+1 on shellac.

I've got a fretless that I made of Zebrano which I finished with a few coats of Shellac and then a few layers of Tru-oil. that finish is really easy to apply; plus it looks and feels very natural but still offers some protection

is there a specific shellac you would recommend?

use beeswax or clear boot wax...
the wood will be protected somewhat and it will look pretty much unfinished...

I used a Rustin's Shellac Sealer. it comes in a clear plastic bottle.

use beeswax or clear boot wax...
the wood will be protected somewhat and it will look pretty much unfinished...
+1, also carnauba wax which most shoe polishes have in them.

is there a specific shellac you would recommend?

Try Zinnser Bulls Eye Seal Coat. It's a clear, de-waxed shellac in a 2 lb. cut available in quarts or gallons. I've been using a lot of it lately. Call around to good paint stores to find it. I haven't seen it in Home Depot. Paint stores think of it as a sealer and may carry a lot of other shellac sealers so you have to ask for it by name.

Most of the other pre-mixed shellacs contain wax. They are less water resistant than de-waxed shellac and don't harden quite as much.

Apply with a synthetic brush. Clean up with shellac thinner. You can also clean brushes with household ammonia and water. Shellac dries very quickly and you can sand and re-coat in an hour or less. It's moderately water resistant but dissolves easily in alcohol and ammonia.

Shellac will provide more durable protection than wax, and, unlike wax, is easier to remove if you later want to apply a real finish. It will not change the colour of the wood much as oil finishes so will look more like bare wood than oil and varnish.