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WORKSHOP
10 11
10 Sure enough, our 12
bushings fit snugly
11 Using a hair dryer on
the warm setting fixes the
veneers in place
12 The moment of truth
13 Happily, we have a tight
and rattle-free fit
14 Roberto’s bass ready to
return to duty
13
14
I hatched a plan. On the day we allowed Next, I cut each strip to a length of I stuck each strip in place with Titebond
ourselves to go out and gather supplies, I 2.5 inches, slightly more material than II wood glue and reinserted the bushings.
visited a hardware store in search of veneer, I required to fill in the gap between the After installing the tuners and slapping on
specifically the thin kind used to line the bushing and the headstock. I let my kettle a set of La Bella flats, it brought me great
forward-facing edge of shelves. It can be heat up for the next step while I checked pleasure to see that they were set firmly in
found in many types of wood but the store the necessary measurements. place and functioned perfectly. Job done.
only had adhesive-backed red oak. Inspired by the way luthiers bend the Only time will tell if this was a permanent
This type of veneer comes in handy sides of acoustic guitars, I decided to bend solution. Frankly, I don’t expect it was. I’d
around guitar repair shops. I use it most the veneer strips by placing them in a bowl sooner fill and drill or spend more time and
often to shim the gaps around a neck in a of steaming-hot water, soaking them until I effort finding bushings that actually fit than
slightly oversized pocket. I thought it might could bend them around my finger. It took resort to kettle-and-veneer tactics. But poor
be of use here to line the bushing holes. some time for the wood to soften but soon Roberto’s been missing this bass, and this
With any luck, Roberto would have his it was malleable enough to shape. works well enough that he won’t have to
bass back in no time. I test-fitted each strip and trimmed to the wait any longer. I call this a win.
The first step of this procedure was appropriate length for full coverage, then Now to wipe it down with disinfectant
scraping off the adhesive backing of the inserted a bushing to check my work. Sure and hand it back. It’s an amazing bass and
veneer strips, a process made much easier enough, each bushing fit snugly, so I used belongs to an equally amazing friend.
with the use of hot water. I used a razor a hair dryer on a warm setting to dry the
blade to scrape off the damp glue. veneer in place. For more, follow Mike on Instagram @puisheen
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