Soliciting suggestions for how to finish this beast?

My Zenith 6s229 has been a project. The electrical & chassis work is about done and due to some lifting veneer (on top of unit) and UGLY paper finish elsewhere I decided to put new veneer on the whole thing (top end\front caps of console exceped). I got some nice PSA Mahagony veneer and that is now in place on the cabinet, holes for knobs, dial, speaker, ect routed out, sanded and looking good.... The thing is now about ready for a new finish - just some trimming left on the top piece of veneer .

That begs the question..... How shall I finish this beast? Stain or no stain, lacquer, shellac, orange shellac, someting else? While I don't need spray & forget it, I also don't want to be working on this thing for six more months.... From the pic you can see the wood is quite blond in color, I did some tests on sample pieces of veneer with Minwax "Red Mahagony" stain and also Deft clear satin lacquer, just lacquer and also the lacquer over the stain - the stained test looked to "brown" to me and the clear was just a bit darker than unfinished product.

My initial thoughts are that w/o some darkening stain the finished product will not look right as it will be too light a color?

Any suggestions on which way to go?

Regards,
Gregory

I use dyes (in powder form) that dissolve in alcohol. Usually brown mahogany looks good to me. After it's filled and lacquered (maybe some perfect brown Mohawk), it'll look great.

Nice work.
Don't forget to use grain filler.

Using only a clear, the wood will not look right.
Lacquer finish, Deft either gloss, or satin/semigloss.
JMO

I'd go for the way it looked originally. As for stains--whatever you use seal the wood first with a coat or two of lacquer. I think it makes the finish glow more deeply and it keeps the grain looking distinct. My .02 worth.

Wow!! What a great job! I just restores that same model set...Mine didn't turn out as nice as yours..How much veneer did that job take? and where did you get your veneer?
Thanks Gary

Gary,

I bought a 2x8 Sheet of PSA Quatered\Ribbon mahogany veneer at Monsterwoodshop.com. Out of that I used a 24x33 inch piece, I've got alot left over which is ok as I have some other uses for it. Yes, it was expensive and so far I've put WAY more $$ into this fix-up than the thing is worth, but it's been fun and a learning experience.

This was my first purchase from monsterwoodshop, it went fine, they have alot of veneer choices.

Regards,
Gregory