Amp case build

Believe it or not I had a chance to start another project. My buddy spook needed a shell for his new amp he bought (some wild clone of this 50K amp) so he asked me to build him one. It took me a total of 8 hrs to complete the build but I know the finishing will take up most of the time. I refuse to just build something and send it off unfinished! I like the finishing process (when it goes right) and I get great satisfaction out of just feeling and looking at the finished product before it goes to the client.
The original plan was to build it with plywood and solid edging like I did with the 2x12 speaker cab but quite frankly I just didn't want to spend the time! (Sorry spook you're just gonna have to cough up the $50 for the stick of lumber)
The shell is made of solid ash and the front is a piece of 1/4" wild figured maple I had laying around glued on a 1/2" piece of white oak. All it needs is the vent cut out in the solid back and it's ready for finishing. I've been playing around with some colors but I haven't had any luck. The ash takes the water base black excellent but it has trouble with the alcohol base stains. I think I might have to bite the bullet and spend the $20 to get a good water base dye! I was thinking a purple front and a blue shell. Maybe even an all blacks shell with a purple front. But before I do that I better ask the guy who'll be looking at this thing for a while! Here's the progress:

7' by 12" 4/4 solid ash.

Milling the lumber.

I had to rip, mill and glue the sticks back together because my planer width is only 10 inches! But my jointer width is also 10" and that is worth every dime I spent on this combo machine! I use the 10 inches on the jointer way more than the planer.

No way you can see the joint when I'm done!

Cross-cutting the sides, top and bottom.

Gluing up the front corners.

Did I mention I love drinking beer? It has really been a while since I had a Boston lager and I must say I was pleasantly surprised! I've been on a porter/stout crave lately and this light malty Vienna lager was delicious on a summer afternoon working in the woodshop at 98°F!

Gluing the shell together with biscuits. Don't get me started on dovetails! If you have a dovetail machine good for you. If you don't and do them by hand, I wish I had your time! The first time I did dovetails by hand was in Germany in the early 90's in my cabinet making apprenticeship. I swore to myself then I will never do dovetails by hand again and I never did!

My name is Ed and and that's some funny ass lumber...

Finished amp from the back. Just needs the cut-out.

Front with the maple insert.

Same just wet.