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Advice on mounting ashtrays on new 62 Jazz reissue

Q

QED314

Jun 21, 2005
23
0
#1
Hello to all,

I just got an American made Fender Jazz 62 reissue (Olympic white - stack knob). I want to mount the ashtrays that came with it but have never done this sort of thing before. Anyone have any advice or any pitfalls that I should avoid? It came with a few sheets of paper which show you exactly where to put the holes, which is not an issue. What I worry about it cracking the finish, or something like that. Any advice would be most appreciated. Will post before and after pics if people would be interested.

- QED

PS. Was Olympic white an original color for the 62 stack knob? I couldn't find information to confirm this online, but I liked the color none the less (much to my surprise... I never thought I would own an Olympic white bass)
 
#2
I was told to use some blue masking tape on each spot and to drill with a hand drill.

However, when I decided to put covers on my '51 RI, I took it to a pro, who was doing some work on my Jazz that needed some repairs. Much to my surprise he did it right then and there, with a hand drill but no blue tape. I don't know the bit size(s) he used, but the results were perfect. YMMV.
 
#3
Original stacknobs were actually made in '60-'61,(My avatar is my refinned 61)so I have always found it strange that Fender calls their reissues '62 Jazzes. Olympic white, black and sunburst were the standard production colors, though duco custom colors could be ordered. Olymic white was a popular color for pre-cbs jazzes, but it was far less common then 3 color sunburst.

As for the ashtrays, personally I wouldn't mount them at all. They will severely limit your access to different playing positions. If you have to mount them, cover the area around where you want the holes with blue painters tape, and use a sharp drill bit slightly smaller than the screw to pre-drill the screw. Remove the tape and install the covers.
 
#4
Thanks for the advice. I envy your refinished 61`. Nice bass. I havea refinished 64 that I just posted on a thread. I had it done a fews years back by alleva coppolo in NYC. They did a bang up job on the refin. I'm very happy with it.

Since it's a reissue, I wanted to drill the holes to give it a more authentic look and feel. If I play out with it, I'll likely take the ashtrays off. I feel that it should ship with the ashtrays on, since it is a reissue after all. That way you can easilly take them off if you like. I feel the same way about the string mutes. But I guess there are probably those out there that would have the idea of the holes being in the bass. Either way, I'll likely install the entire kit at somepoint, just to maintain the authenticity/reissue feel of it.

Thanks for the advice though! I hadn't thought of use the blue tape and the hand drill is a good idea too.

THANKS!

QED314
 
#5
I like the covers in place, and never found them to be limiting at all.

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DSC00430.jpg
 
#8
When mounting the covers on my P-Bass, I put tape on the place where the covers touch the bass (but clearing the screw holes), set them about where they should go. Then I walked around the instrument looking at it from all sides to make sure they were centered.

Double-checked centering with a tape measure while referring to a few covered P pics here on Talk-Bass.

Touched through the holes of the covers the bass with a Sharpie (ever so slightly) and drilled there.

I put a smidge of plastic (Saran wrap) under the bridge cover before mounting it, just so it would not dent the wood. The PU cover was over the pickguard.

It turned out just fine. Just go slowly and it'll work.
 
#9
zodiac1968 said:
Is the sound of the bass with those mutes comparable to the sound of the foam strip they were replaced with?
Click to expand...

No. The felt mutes are thuddier since they have more more contact area and more pressure against the string from the metal plates. It produces a very short note with a heck of a thump...which to me sounds more 'upright bass-ish' than the foam strip.
 

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