www.KitGuitarsForum.com

I've been working on two versions of my "Norman Kinkade" first builds, 12 fret short scales on a Jonny Kinkead OM-type body form. One is a new Sitka top, thicknesses to Kinkead specs (about .125") and the other is a Sitka (I think) top that was given to me already thicknessed to about .100". It has aged some or been exposed to light so has darkened. I have scraped and sanded some in the rosette process so it looks uneven. I have debated running it through the thickness sander to even the look a bit but am reluctant to thin it further. I know from a houseful of Douglas-fir trims that softwoods will darken, even to match older wood, so can I expect this to happen with this top? Or might it always be unevenly coloured? That would not be the end of the world - I'm more concerned about the sound. I have an older Larrivée that is a lovely dark colour and I don't mind that, if it's uniform. To sand or not to sand?

you can sand the entire top. to even up the color
it happens when the wood is exposed to sunlight.

I would wait until the guitar was assembled, you will most likely need to sand the top as part of your prep work. That sanding will even the tone.