Sealer Coat under Stain?

[blipndub]

I'm about to embark on my first transparent finish. It's an alder body that is I believe raw. I want to put a dark transparent red stain from stew mac, the vintage cherry color tone, but I don't know if I should put a sander/sealer coat under it or if that will not allow the stain to penetrate. I've filled wood with straight nitro lacquer before, but not with a transparent finish. The stew mac site seems to skip over this question in it's tutorials.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

[standupright]

stain first then seal

[praisegig]

If you are using the ColorTone Concentrated Liquid Stain, you can either mix it with water to stain the bare wood to your liking. Apply 4 coats of S&S to lock in the coloring, level sand with 400-600 with no shiny spots and matte sheen. Apply lacquer top coats.

If you mix it with alcohol, then apply 2 coats of S&S, level sand, repeat and level sand with no shiny spots seen and a matte sheen. Then mix the color with alcohol to desired color and spray on, as you would with a toner. The more coats, the darker in coloring it will get, but still transparent. Apply lacquer top coats.

Use same alcohol schedule, if using a lacquer mix.

[blipndub]

Thank you for that info do you recommend a S&S that works especially well? I just have some ACE Brand water based. I plan on using water with the stain.

I wonder why the stew mac site didn't have mention of post staining sealing.

Oh but I did find this that talks about it: http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Fini...waterbase.html

[blipndub]

I'm trying to emulate a gibson vintage cherry color of a les paul that I have, it's mahogany and I'm sure they used black sealer before the red, would that work with alder or should I just add coats of stain to get the darkness I want?