Instrument details: Pete Lewis - Electric bass guitar

Pete starts by joining the two halves of his alder body.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

A scrub plane is ideal for quickly removing excess material.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

A maple cap is joined and glued to the body.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

When installng a truss rod into a one piece neck, a curved channel must be routed from the rear.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The truss rod is then installed through a hole in the headstock which will be plugged with a walnut dowel.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Pete is fitting black Tahiti pearl fret markers into the top of the neck.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Drilling the machine head holes. Simon lines up while Pete watches on.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Pete fine tunes the neck fit. Care must be taken to allow just the right slack to accommodate the thickness of the lacquer.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The stain is applied by hand prior to lacquering.

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The lacquer is flattened...

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...and polished.

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The back of Pete's bass.

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A close-up of the front.

Photo added on 23/10/2014