In the other thread we were discussing transtint and depth of finish.
Here is my process for figured maple.
Here is the guitar body. Mahogany body with a layer of walnut for accent (that isn’t very noticable - should have used maple) and a quilted maple top. I buy most of my figured maple from a company in OR. I’ve built this shape 3 or 4 times. People seem to dig it.
I stain the whole top black.
Then sand it back. The black sinks into the figuring and won’t sand out. I repeat this process two or three times.
Then, stain it with the primary color, in this case, a ruby red. I think it’s transtint cherry red and red mahogany mixed.
The black provides depth and accent to the figuring and gives it a more 3D look.
Then, 3-4 cans (I don’t have a spray booth or spray gun) of nitrocellulose lacquer, hours of wet sanding, and a polish with 3M Finese-it.
Glossy and deep…
That guitar is outfitted with OBEL wiring.