CS 59 :-(

P Bass Legend · #1 07-15-2011, 12:26 PM

Hello, I have a Fender CS 59' and after reading a few topics I decided to check the bridge cover of my P bass and realized it was "crooked". What should I do? It never bugged me before because I never thought it could be "wrong". I mean, they aren't completly straight, the hole on the left is a bit higher than the one on the right. There's something I could do to repair it?

Sorry but I have no cam, so I can't post any pics of it.

electracoyote · #2 07-15-2011, 12:34 PM

I'm gonna go with "if this isn't readily apparent and unavoidably noticeable to the average person ten feet away when you have the bass in playing position, don't worry about it."

However, if you are the anal-retentive type (as I tend to be on occasion), you need to fill, measure, and re-drill the holes where you think they should be.

P Bass Legend · #3 07-15-2011, 12:38 PM

yeah... I'm very anal-retentive lol
Btw, it isn't crooked enough to just re-drill a new hole, i would need to fill it with something. Which kind of material would be the best to re-fill before I drill it again?

electracoyote · #4 07-15-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P Bass Legend

yeah... I'm very anal-retentive lol
Btw, it isn't crooked enough to just re-drill a new hole, i would need to fill it with something. What kind of material should I use? wood?

Wood filler, see your local hardware store, ask for suggestions. I haven't had to do it for awhile.

DTF · #5 07-15-2011, 12:42 PM

try tooth picks and wood glue or a wooden shish kebob skewer shaved down to size , or you can buy dowels at a craft store

P Bass Legend · #6 07-15-2011, 12:51 PM

have you guys tried that before?

It's a pretty expensive bass, I don't wanna risk you know? ;p

Caca de Kick · #7 07-15-2011, 12:54 PM

A plugged and redrilled hole is going to look uglier than just leaving it alone. Of course with the cover off you'll always see that plug, and that would bother me more.

P Bass Legend · #8 07-15-2011, 01:09 PM

It looks "crooked" just like this one:

Mine does have a gold pickguard tho.
I'm very disappointed with Fender Custom Shop right now :|

ghostdog93 · #9 07-15-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caca de Kick

A plugged and redrilled hole is going to look uglier than just leaving it alone. Of course with the cover off you'll always see that plug, and that would bother me more.

Agreed. Unless you've had some experience doing this sort of repair, I'd leave it alone. IMO, an ugly repair is worse than a factory goof. You might, however, consider slotting the screw hole in the existing cover to allow for a little adjustment, something like this...

This is merely an example, of course, but this sort of enlargement of the screw hole will allow you to move the cover enough so it doesn't look so wonky. Of course, the screw head may not cover the slot completely, and that may bother you as much as the crooked cover.

If it really bugs you, is returning it an option?

Mastermold · #10 07-15-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by P Bass Legend

Hello, I have a Fender CS 59' and after reading a few topics I decided to check the bridge cover of my P bass and realized it was "crooked". What should I do? It never bugged me before because I never thought it could be "wrong". I mean, they aren't completly straight, the hole on the left is a bit higher than the one on the right. There's something I could do to repair it?

Sorry but I have no cam, so I can't post any pics of it.

Nothing to repair, it's just crooked. You either return it or live with it. Sorry bro. (BTW my CS 59 is currently back at Fender under warranty for a new neck due to a truss rod problem. The CS is pretty careful but I guess even they can make mistakes.)

P Bass Legend · #11 07-15-2011, 01:45 PM

Returning isn't an option since I live in São Paulo (brazil) it would cost me alot to send it back to the USA, plus I would have to pay the importation taxes all over again. It would be at least a 1800$ lost by sending it back.

It is only a bit crooked, I'm quite sure that nobody will ever notice in a gig "hey look, his bridge cover is crooked! lolol" But yeah... I paid a lot for this bass and I would like to have it perfect.

**nostatic** · #12 07-15-2011, 02:02 PM

that's about as perfect as Fender gets

alembicbones · #13 07-15-2011, 02:02 PM

While this imperfection might be annoying, it sounds pretty minor. If the bass plays and sounds like a dream, and other than this little glitch, looks fantastic, I wouldn't bother trying to fix it.

When I received my custom Alembic, there was a little notch in the side of the fretboard near the nut. I see it every time I play the bass. It's a little annoying but doesn't affect the overall appearance, playability, and sound of the bass. I quickly got over it.

I hope you can enjoy this bass in good health.

Bones

johnk_10 · #14 07-15-2011, 02:16 PM

you can often get it a bit straighter if you put a toothpick in both of the mounting holes and then mount the new screws using the edges of the filled holes in the direction that will straighten it. so you're basically realigning it 1/2 of the screw's diameter and that way there's no additional holes drilled in it when the cover is off.

P Bass Legend · #15 07-15-2011, 02:17 PM

It really sounds, feels and plays like a dream! I just think it would look better if the cover wasn't crooked! hehe
This is why I don't plan on selling it, It is a "keeper", I love everything about this bass, I just think i would love it more if the cover were installed straight!

P Bass Legend · #16 07-15-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnk_10

you can often get it a bit straighter if you put a toothpick in both of the mounting holes and then mount the new screws using the edges of the filled holes in the direction that will straighten it. so you're basically realigning it 1/2 of the screw's diameter and that way there's no additional holes drilled in it when the cover is off.

I might try that soon

Thanks for the posts guys, keep em coming

**pacojas** · #17 07-15-2011, 02:47 PM

i got a post for ya!

get over it... in a year or two that bass will be so dinged-up that BC will be the least of your worries! let's call it Mojo.

P Bass Legend · #18 07-15-2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pacojas

i got a post for ya!

get over it... in a year or two that bass will be so dinged-up that BC will be the least of your worries! let's call it Mojo.

I got it for over 2 years, it already have a few dings :P

I only noticed about the cover recently, it never bugged me before.

BillyIVbass · #19 07-15-2011, 03:10 PM

I'd gingerly try the toothpick suggestion and then live with it. Filling/re-drilling never looks good. Or I'd just take the cover off.

YCBass · #20 07-15-2011, 03:28 PM

If you play with the cover on, won't it cover the extra hole if you were to drill a new one? If so, don't even bother filling it.