MOTM

If you insist on solid wood, you can't use a single piece for 
anything. Even if you could find fine wood that big, it would warp. 
So you have to build up a board's width by edge-joining narrower 
pieces, running grain in alternate directions to reduce warp. So now 
you need a joiner, and a planer. You have to start with thicker wood 
and plane down to size - so if you want 3/4" thick stock, you need 
7/8" to start with. And if you can't get raw stock that thick, then 
you have to build it up thickness-wise as well. You'll spend days and 
days just making your boards! I don't particularly like the look you 
get from narrow strips joined together - the grain mismatch is 
distracting.

The Synth of Doom cabs are cabinet grade birch 3/4" ply. Because they 
are covered in veneer, I was able to get the wider grain patterns 
that I like. I used the exact same construction techniques that I 
would have employed had it been made of solid walnut - biscuits and 
glue, with internal corner blocks. The outer veneer layers on plywood 
like this are every bit as fine wood as solid pieces, and take finish 
just as well.

This leaves the question of edges. Look at any modern 'hardwood' 
cabinet and you will see what to do. When you need just a flat edge, 
veneer strips work great. The iron-on stuff I use goes on easy, has a 
great bond, and is practically invisible once you sand the edges 
flush. After you stain and finish, you can't tell it's veneer at all 
unless you use a microscope. It doesn't peel or come loose. For 
beveled or decorative edges, use a 3/4" square solid piece of 
matching hardwood. Easy! Well, easy to understand the theory - you 
still have to execute the process with patience.

For finishing, I concur with Paul H. that polyurethane is the way to 
go. I have found that no matter what I do, I cannot apply poly with a 
brush without leaving bubbles. I found a product called MinWax Wipe-
On Poly that works great for me. Wipe it on with a rag, wait 10 
minutes, wipe off the excess, and sand several hours later, then 
repeat.

Moe

http://www.hotrodmotm.com