I don't think it is common practice. I am not going to finish finish it. I am just dying the top dark to pop the grain. The shellac is just to keep the dye off the sides. I am going to sand it back once I get done. LP is way easier to sand before the neck is set. I kinda left everyone...
I am going to stain the top dark and sand it back. Normally I do not do this as it lessens the 3D effect of good figured maple. However with the transparent black burst I need to emphasise the grain a so it shows through the burst better. Before staining the top we shoot a coat of shellac on...
That is the plan. I personally hate pickup rings and had no plan on using them. I did want to show that standard pickup rings fit fine. It is pretty common to have to sand the bottom of pickup rings to fit. If I was going to fix them I would slap a piece of 120 grit sandpaper on the face...
The pickups for this build will be a set of US hardware Diablo Humbuckers. I am using US made poles, slugs, baseplates, and vintage correct butyrate bobbins. Of course these have a Diablo wind and A8 mags to make them mean.
Also looked at the regular plastic pickup rings as well. The back one fit better but the front still had gaps. I do not think it is the carve causing the poor fit but the inconsistent pickup rings.
Black Metal Curved pickup rings from ALLPARTS. The fit is not ideal. If I was going to use them I would have to put a piece of sandpaper on the top and sand them to match.
The slanted Bone Nut from ALLPARTS needs a little trim to fit the slot. I think the LP nut would fit perfect. This is a generic martin style I had lying around. In the picture you will see it is larger than the 1/4" file from Stew Mac. Probably just cut my own from stock.