'51 P Bridge Cover Dimensions

[dave120]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a bridge cover to replace a missing piece on an old bass, and the Fender 51 P cover looks most like what I need, but the bridge on this bass is a bit taller than normal so I need to know the dimensions of this cover, but I can't find them anywhere. Width and Height would be very helpful if anyone has one they can measure for me so I can see if this bridge I have will fit under one.

[Jefenator]

H: 18-19mm (there's a bit of an arch) EDIT: INCORRECT - see below

W: 65mm at front, flaring out to 85mm at back (measuring at the top, before it curves down - is 73mm & 97 mm at the bottom).

HTH

[dave120]

Originally Posted by Jefenator

H: 18-19mm (there's a bit of an arch)

W: 65mm at front, flaring out to 85mm at back (measuring at the top, before it curves down - is 73mm & 97 mm at the bottom).

HTH

Thank you!

Darn, it won't work. The bridge on this thing is 7/8" at the top of the string. So about 22.2 mm....so it won't fit under there. Anybody knows of any TALL bridge covers?

[Jefenator]

Umm, yesterday I sort of failed to notice, the cheap plastic ruler has some space before the mm scale begins. My bad...

The '51 cover height arch, measured over the string span, using the good ruler, after coffee, is more like 21-21.5mm.

I also have a >57 cover kicking around. That's slightly more arched - I'm measuring 21-22mm.

Still sounds like a tight squeeze - what's up with that bridge?? Is there any way to lower those saddles a bit? (I wonder if the neck might be tilted back a bit too much.)

Alternately, you could shim up the cover. (Not sure how much clearance one could add before it looks bad.)

HTH

[dave120]

Originally Posted by Jefenator

Umm, yesterday I sort of failed to notice, the cheap plastic ruler has some space before the mm scale begins. My bad...

The '51 cover height arch, measured over the string span, using the good ruler, after coffee, is more like 21-21.5mm.

I also have a >57 cover kicking around. That's slightly more arched - I'm measuring 21-22mm.

Still sounds like a tight squeeze - what's up with that bridge?? Is there any way to lower those saddles a bit? (I wonder if the neck might be tilted back a bit too much.)

Alternately, you could shim up the cover. (Not sure how much clearance one could add before it looks bad.)

HTH

Yeah it's an old '60s Japanese bass and the neck sits high in the pocket and the bridge has really tall (non adjustable) saddles. The bridge is actually not in the right place, so I will need to move it slightly. I want to put a cover back on it to hide that, and it had some type of cover on it originally anyways but who knows where that one is at this point.

[Pilgrim]

Check width. Most of those covers can be squeezed together slightly, which would add to the clearance - however, if squeezed it would clear more in the center than the edges.

I'm thinking a strip of black plastic under each side of the cover would work as a shim.

[dave120]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Check width. Most of those covers can be squeezed together slightly, which would add to the clearance - however, if squeezed it would clear more in the center than the edges.

I'm thinking a strip of black plastic under each side of the cover would work as a shim.

That's a pretty good idea. The bridge itself isn't as wide as a typical Fender bridge I don't think. The string spacing is actually rather tight and the saddles aren't as wide. I haven't updated my website with the newest pictures or I could show you. I think I will pick up a cover and see if I can't make it work. If I can't then I'm sure I will use it for something down the road.

Edit: I forgot I posted a picture of it originally in this thread.