pickguard MIA J to MIM J conversion

[Extrinsic]

Maybe this isn't worth it, but I bought a MIA J pickguard to put on my MIM J bass.

Can these things be filed to shape easily? The holes don't line up and bleh. What kind of drill do I use to add more holes to the pickguard?

I could use any tips from someone whose done it before

[__HM__]

You'd rather have more holes in your pickguard, which would look awful, than just return/sell the MIA pickguard to purchase a MIM one?

[Extrinsic]

hmmm, I could never find MIM specific pickguards which is why I threw in a few $ for a MIA one. The manufacturer gave no indication that the holes would be misaligned but no, I don't plan on getting rid of it.

[bendy]

Maybe try returning the one you just bought and try another. There's standardization and then there's standardization, with slight variability. I recently picked up a 99 MIM Jazz and swapped out the the 3-ply parchment guard for a 4-ply (i.e., American) tort. I needed to shave a just little bit off of the end of one of the holes for the pickups to get it to fit, but all of screw holes lined up without any problem. Now it looks great.

When I was shopping online for replacement pickguards, I noticed several available varieties. I was careful to order a pickguard without the indentation for truss rod access, as my MIM's truss rod is accessed above the nut. I don't know if that made a difference in terms of fit.

[walterw]

companies like WD (pickguards.com) will make the right ones for the instrument, even if you have to make a tracing of it and mail it to them.

[punkrocko]

Do any of the holes line up? If you can get 4-5 screw in, that will hold it tight.

[JLS]

Why not drill new holes in the body, using the holes in the pickguard as a guide? Get a small Vix (self centering) bit. The old holes would be covered by the new pickguard, right?

[darius8]

Originally Posted by JLS

Why not drill new holes in the body, using the holes in the pickguard as a guide? Get a small Vix (self centering) bit. The old holes would be covered by the new pickguard, right?

Thats sounds right, the control plate will help lining it up too.

[John D]

Fender makes them. I bought one for my MIM Jazz, and it was a perfect fit. Sorry, I don't remember where I bought it. Just Goggle MIM Fender Jazz pick guard. There are bunches of places that sell them.

Edit: Here you go. Fender® Jazz Bass® Mexican Standard