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Blank Jazz control plate?

#2
ric426 said:
Anyone know if it's possible to get a chrome Jazz Bass control plate with no control holes drilled?
Click to expand...

Unlikely that an un-drilled chrome J-plate exists so your options are cutting one out of stainless steel (for a similar looking plate but difficult to work with/fab) or otherwise most any other material (wood, plastic,?) Or fabricated steel chromed but not for cheap.
 
#3
When I asked my local luthier to cut one out of stainless, he said it would be difficult and not worth what he'd have to charge me for the labor. Then when I asked if he could do one instead from mirrored pick guard material that I had leftover from another project, he said no problem.
 
#4
Yeah, I kinda figured that would be the case. I'll probably end up making my own. I could do brushed stainless, but it'd be a lot of work with the equipment I've got. How about one with 5 holes spaced evenly? Anyone ever seen one for sale anywhere? I looked at using a 3 hole plate from a '62 reissue and putting holes between the existing ones, but the spacing would end up pretty tight.
 
#6
It's not too bad. Right now I'm using a 4 hole plate with a 5th hole between the hole for the tone control and the output jack. It's tight but usable. Having 5 holes evenly spaced would better though, especially if I cheat the outer most holes towards the ends a bit.

If I go non-standard with a stainless plate I could even make it a little longer, just stretch the standard shape a little, but I'm not sure I want to do that. It's going on a new body that I'm in the process of finishing, so I can configure it however I want it.
 

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