@Muzz
Steve drills the holes like that on purpose and for the same reason he'll fill some splits/wormholes but leave others, they're hand built $100 per string basses !!
Wishbasses were built in Steve's shed with the minimum of power tools,they're meant to look rough and ready/full of rustic charm π Even in his new premises with more tools he still builds the same and it works. Most of his customers,the hillbilly folks, could easy buy Chinese or Indonesian gear for less money but it goes against the "MAGA" ethos π
Not all are rough and ready,these 3 were exhibits in the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. The other is a lovely snakewood Lobe over in Vienna.