Building My First Bass Guitar

Step 17: Truss rod cover

TRUSS ROD COVER PLANNING/CUTTING:  It was time to plan out the truss rod cover that covers the head stock access to the rod.  I had looked at purchasing one but could not find anything, because the radius on my headstock up by the nut had a radius that I would not be able to match with a purchased cover.  After discovering that the radius matched exactly with the curve on a silver dollar, I decided to draw up a side profile of the cover’s shape in order to come up with something acceptable.  I created some toolpaths, clamped a piece of 1” thick walnut (from the body’s leftovers) to the router table, and cut out the profile shape.

THE CROSS COVER:  I wanted to make this truss cover unique and since the bass guitar will be used predominately in a contemporary church service, I decided to make it into the shape of a cross.  I made a drawing and toolpaths for the cross, carpet taped the walnut piece to the router table, and cut out the cross portion of the shape of the truss rod cover.  I did some minor blending and sanding and laid it on the guitar headstock to see the fit.  I will place some hold-down screws in strategic locations later.