Some builds are about the guitar. This one is about a friendship. When Jim Larsen set out to build a bass from a Guitar Kit World kit, it was not for himself. It was for his longtime friend Bill Adam, a retired Air Force pilot and musician. Jim wanted to thank him with something no store could sell: a custom instrument, built by hand, finished over weeks, and presented as a surprise.
This is the story of that bass.
The kit
Jim started with our WB Bass Guitar Kit with Mahogany Body, Flamed Maple Top, and Rosewood Fretboard. He had originally hoped for a bound body, but chose this kit because of its striking maple veneer, comfortable double cutaway body shape, and classic PJ pickup layout. The flamed top would become the canvas for what he had in mind next.
The lava burst finish
Jim wanted a dramatic finish that would bring the flame figure in the maple to life. He hand sanded the body and neck up to 600 grit before any color touched the wood.
Then came the lava burst. Jim stained the edges deep black, fading softly toward the center. Over that, he layered amber and red highlights. Then sanded much of the color back to let the grain shimmer through, especially where the black settled into the most porous pockets of the flamed maple. Stain, sand back, repeat. Several cycles. Then a final all-over amber coat for the warm glow.
He used TransTint stains mixed with alcohol so he could build up thin layers quickly without long dry times between coats.
Dialing in the neck
Out of the box, the WB neck already looked good, but Jim wanted the bass to feel as refined as it looked. A straightedge check revealed a few high frets and fret ends that needed attention. He taped off the rosewood fingerboard, leveled the frets, dressed the ends, and polished everything to a smooth shine with a Dremel buffing wheel.
He confirmed the fretboard radius at 10 inches: a comfortable curve for both fingerstyle and pick playing.
The Tru Oil finish
For the final finish, Jim chose a hand rubbed approach rather than spray lacquer. Wanting something that would look beautiful and also nod to Bill’s interest in firearms, he used Tru Oil gunstock finish on both the body and neck.
Coat after coat, the flame and the burst colors deepened and grew more vibrant. After letting the finish cure, Jim polished it with 3M boat wax to bring out a high gloss sheen. The result: a rich, glassy surface that still feels organic and smooth in the hands.
Electronics, shielding, and upgrades
Inside the body, Jim lined the control and pickup cavities with copper foil to reduce hum and keep the bass quiet under stage lights. (For anyone considering the same, see our copper shielding FAQ.)
He reused the stock volume and tone pots, knowing they could be upgraded later if needed. But the pickups got a deliberate upgrade: Jim swapped the lightweight stock ceramics for a set of Fleor Alnico PJ pickups that he sourced based on strong reviews. That gave the bass more clarity, punch, and dynamic response while keeping the familiar PJ character.
On hardware, Jim initially installed the standard tuning machines that came with the kit but was not satisfied with their feel. After the first full setup, he upgraded to a set of Guyker bass tuners, which offer smoother operation and more precise tuning control.
The F4 Phantom engraving
This is where the build becomes a tribute.
Jim’s son Josh owns a laser engraver. Together they found line art of an F4 Phantom fighter jet, chosen to honor Bill’s Air Force service. They masked the back of the body with tape to minimize smoke marks, then burned the detailed outline of the Phantom into the mahogany.
The result is a crisp, technical illustration that transforms the rear of the bass into a tribute panel. Father and son. One bass. One Phantom. One friend honored.
The personal nameplate
Under the neck plate, Jim added another subtle touch. Knowing Bill likes to put his name on his gear, Jim 3D printed a custom tag with “Bill Adam” and mounted it under the neck plate screws. It is visible every time someone looks closely at the joint. A small but meaningful signature.
The reveal
The photos of Bill holding the finished bass say everything. The flamed maple top glows under the lights. The PJ pickups and upgraded hardware hint at serious tone. The laser engraved Phantom on the back ties the instrument directly to his life and service.
What began as a flat packed DIY kit became something far more personal in Jim’s hands. Through careful prep, a complex burst finish, thoughtful upgrades, and meaningful custom artwork, he created a one-of-a-kind instrument that reflects both his skill as a builder and his deep respect for a friend.
A tribute to Jim’s generosity
We want to close on this. Jim built this bass not for himself, but to honor someone who mattered to him. The time, patience, and craftsmanship he invested speak to the kind of friend we all hope to have: someone who shows appreciation through genuine effort and care.
From everyone at Guitar Kit World: congratulations to Jim Larsen on a beautiful, heartfelt build, and to Bill Adam on his new custom bass. Jim, thank you for trusting our WB bass kit for such a meaningful project, and for sharing your story and photos with us so we could share them with the community.
Read the full story
The original blog write-up, with more detail on each stage of the build:
Bill’s Bass: A Custom Build Honoring a Friend