I just got an SX jazz bass and tonight before my gig I put on a set of Fender 9050M flatwounds. Unfortunately, the hole in the bridge for the E isn't large enough to accomodate such a hefty string, I pulled on it for a bit and couldn't get it all the way in so I was forced to play the show with a bit of string left sticking out the back of the bridge.
How can I get the string to fit properly? I don't like the ball end of the string not being at the end of the bridge.
If there is no solution, can someone recommend a set of strings that sound similar to the Fenders but are not quite as fat?
Obviously a drill would work. I'm just worried about breaking strings if the holes aren't perfectly smooth. Anyone done this with good results? Thanks!
it's a cheap bridge...drill it out...I changed a cheap bass to BEAD tuning...the .130 B string didn't fit, either...I just took a small square file and turned it through a few times (much faster than a round file (and more brutal))..
it works great...lost a small chip of plating...who cares?
Use a Dremel with a stone rather than a drill bit. It will tend to leave the plating alone. Take your time and keep the plate cool. The advantage to using a stone is that the finishing strokes can be used to remove any burr that may result from the alteration.
NB. Remove the bridge from the guitar, strip off the parts, and chuck it up in a vise. The speed of a rotary tool will play havoc with the finish if it's left on the body and could tear you up if it isn't held firmly so that you can use two hands on the tool.
Bridge Holes on SX Bass Not Big Enough 
