Red Oak Finishing Problems

[shameandspite]

I'd first like to profess my undying thanks to whoever decided to mount the output jack on my cheap fender onto an eigth inch pickguard, so the first time somebody trips over the cord it broke and pulled out all the electronics. I also thank the lord that none of the previously mentioned electronics detatched themselves from thier connections.

That being said, I need a new pickguard, and according to all the local music stores, somebody made my bass unique (it was made on a machine, I'm slightly doubtful). They all wanted $90+ to trace a new one that would just end up breaking again. So I decided to build one. I have plentiful amounts of approximately 1/8" to 3/16" Red Oak stock, and a small shop in which to shape it. My only problem is on my preliminary tests, I cant get a stain to sink into it almost at all, and I'd really prefer to have something other than just the natural color and I dont want to lose the grain. I've sanded to open the pores, I've tried conditioning, but I'm still getting a weak color, even using an ebony stain (which I really dont want to use). I'm using a minwax oil based stain, I dont know what I'm doing wrong. Advice if you will.

[PaulSimonon]

Do you have any gel-based stain handy?

[fookgub]

In the future, try looping your cord through your strap.

[shameandspite]

The cord usually is... was looped, I had it set down without a strap. I haven't seen any gel stain around, and I dont know of any woodworking shops in my area. Do any big chain stores carry it?

[PaulSimonon]

I'm not sure, but I don't see a reason why they wouldn't. If you have a Rockler nearby they'll have it for sure.

[shameandspite]

Finished it with what looks and smells to be some sort of cedar instead, it took the stain quite a bit better. Pics to ensue as soon as the polyurethane dries. I could use a little critisim to verify I didn't just do something stupid.

P.S.
Dont laugh at my bass, I'm in college, I'm allowed to be poor.

[shameandspite]

Here it is, a couple of mess-ups on carving, but ultimately more attractive I think. Your thoughts please.

[T-34]

I like it!

[bannedwit]

Nice job, that looks pretty sweet man....

When I was a kid, i got the urge to sand down my starter Ibanez and stain it a red mahogony... That stain took to it awesome. My buddy saw what I had done and wanted me to do the same thing to his starter Peavy guitar. He wanted a blue stain though. Anyways, my point is that the wood they used on his guitar didnt take to the stain half as well as how mine did.

I guess it depends on the wood. It will get stained, you may just have had to take above and beyond actions to get it to work...

For me, I gave it about 30 coats of stain and even had his guitar sit in it for a little bit...

[thedoctor]

That looks an awful lot like mahogony plywood!! Not bad at all. Since you had to make a new cover, you could have bored a hole from the electronics cavity through the side below the strap pin and mounted your jack with a metal "football" or a Telecaster thimble. Then when your bass gets dropped it can do some real damage!

[PilbaraBass]

good job.

It's a little hairy around the pickups, but the rest looks great.
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