Alder Body- how would you finish

I still have a bit of work to do, but I wanted to at least start thinking about the what and how of finishing.
This is my first build (of many to come, i'm hooked) and finish as well, so I am thinking about simplicity. I do plan to buy a spray rig in the spring.....what kind of finish (paint/dye & protective coat) would you put on this body?
Alder,
a few checks which need filling,
a few small (pen tip size) dents to fill

My first thought is a butterscotch color- can I get away with a trans color given the small fills? or do I need to go opaque?
I'd prefer to stay away from a burst.
Thoughts?

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/quaterstaff/fc98d449.jpg

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/quaterstaff/7a6e11a2.jpg

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/quaterstaff/0bfd35bf.jpg

http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/quaterstaff/07c91158.jpg

I should have taken updated photos after using come CA glue and sanding (the checks are greatly reduced now.....point being, I'll have some fill in the edge on the lower bout as well as a few small dings).
Thanks.

Mike, let me suggest Bartley's grain filler.

We don't often see people using it because alder is "closed pored" but all wood has little gups in it that need filling. I took the wood to a more amber color with the filler, then sprayed clear and some amber tone lacquer over that. It suppressed the gray and salmon colors and gave me a more uniform effect but still the grain shone through a lot.

Your body has a lot of interesting and well matched grain lines, more like we see in ash. Not the bleah effect much alder has. I say, show it off to the max!!

I don't think Bartley's is available anymore.

boris- do you have a photo I could reference?
so the filler (Bartleys does seem to be unavailable, I see others using Pore o pac) is tinted which evens the wood color and the amber tone lacquer allows the grain to show?

Just curious, would a trans finish like a butterscotch not allow the rain to show?

When it comes to finishing....i have no clue. lots to learn.