New P Bass pickguard- doesnt fit

Sparky6string · #1 03-08-2013, 07:03 PM

IDK what I did wrong but I found the Mighty Mite pickguard on Ebay because it had the screw count I needed for my Squier but now that it's here I feel a J Bass pickguard would be a better fit. I have been carving and filing this thing for an hour and still no closer. What am I supposed to do here?

Sparky6string · #2 03-08-2013, 07:07 PM

Im gonna have to make new screw holes anyeway so there was no reason to find the one with similar screw holes.

JoeWPgh · #3 03-08-2013, 07:09 PM

P and J guards are nothing alike. Many aftermarket guards are off just enough to make them a royal pain. I got one for my 2011 American Deluxe Jazz from WD. I have assembled, strung and set up basses in less time than I have in trying get the thing to fit right.

Sparky6string · #4 03-08-2013, 07:16 PM

The P and J guards being nothing alike is the very source of that joke. Well at least this is par for the course. Damn thing has me cursing under my breath while I try to get this right for my daughter.

gjbassist · #5 03-08-2013, 07:21 PM

So what part of it doesn't fit? Is it the neck pocket, pickup route, or the overall shape of the guard?

Sparky6string · #6 03-08-2013, 07:22 PM

When I try to put it on at first the neck pocket wasn't deep enough, so I went at it with a utility knife and files, but then the pickups are off by about 1/4 inch, too much to fudge. I need to pre drill new holes and move the pickups now, then pre drill the new holes for the guard.

TheEmptyCell · #7 03-08-2013, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparky6string

When I try to put it on at first the neck pocket wasn't deep enough, so I went at it with a utility knife and files, but then the pickups are off by about 1/4 inch, too much to fudge. I need to pre drill new holes and move the pickups now, then pre drill the new holes for the guard.

You should get a pickguard that fits instead of moving the pickups and all that nonsense. What kind of bass is this going on?

Sparky6string · #8 03-08-2013, 07:29 PM

It's just a 2002 Squier P Bass, 20th Ann. but we love it. Is there a perfect fitting guard for this bass?

Sparky6string · #9 03-08-2013, 07:39 PM

I just googled Squier Precision Bass Pickguard and didn't come up with anything. I'll spend another $20 to get it right, I just gotta know it will be right.

Sparky6string · #10 03-08-2013, 10:41 PM

OK I wrangled it on. Not a perfect job but not too bad either. Whaddya think?

JoeWPgh · #11 03-08-2013, 11:05 PM

Looks just fine. If it was me, I'd go with black screws. But the fit looks great. Good job!

Sparky6string · #12 03-09-2013, 12:00 AM

Thanks Joe, I appreciate it. We might try the black screws but I think she likes the chrome on black look. She likes the bass a lot, I just wish I could get her to practice more.

One thing I did was strip out the screws holding the pickup in, so I'll have to find replacements for those. They sure wanted to give up the ghost it seemed.

Steveaux · #13 03-09-2013, 10:36 AM

For future reference ...

http://angela.com/search.aspx?find=bass+pickguard

Sparky6string · #14 03-09-2013, 11:24 AM

Thanks Steveaux but that site has no 14 hole guards, and if it did I'm sure I'd run into the same fitting issues I did with the 14 hole guard I did find. In the end it worked out well, but my daughter and I were discussing whether or not to start making and selling 14 hole Squier-specific pick guards. There's a niche there to be filled.

JoeWPgh · #15 03-09-2013, 11:33 AM

Break off a toothpick in the holes for the pickup screws and drop in a little wood glue. It will be good as new

Sparky6string · #16 03-09-2013, 11:44 AM

Actually none of the previous holes can be seen nor did they cause issues for the new ones, so I don't need to fill the holes. What I did have to do was re-cut the neck slot, move the pickups away from the neck about 1/8 in or so, then route out the cavity some to fit the input jack since it didn't fit with the new guard. Took a couple of hours.