Can this be fixed?

[bullshark]

Ordered a blank body from ebay. Unfortunately, they routed the pickup pocket 2.5mm off center, so if I build it as is, the pole pieces would not be centered with the strings, by quite a lot. Since it come from China, it would cost more to send it back than I paid for it.

Suggestion on fixing this?

 

[bholder]

Route it even larger, and then build a wooden surround mounting ring to bring it back down to the proper width in the proper spot? Maybe not the most elegant.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Ordered a blank body from ebay. Unfortunately, they routed the pickup pocket 2.5mm off center, so if I build it as is, the pole pieces would not be centered with the strings, by quite a lot. Since it come from China, it would cost more to send it back than I paid for it.

Suggestion on fixing this?View attachment 7160486

It may not be as far off as it looks. I suggest fitting the neck in the pocket, just temporarily clamping it, to check the alignment. Then adjust the pocket by trimming a bit off the forward end of the bass side wall. It probably won't take much to bring the neck into alignment with the pickup cavity.

 

[Beej]

How do you know for sure it's off? Have you put a neck on it, and dropped in a pickup? It looks like it's off, but things can often be persuaded when in place.

EDIT: bruce and I posted at the same time... worth testing it out first

 

[bullshark]

It may not be as far off as it looks. I suggest fitting the neck in the pocket, just temporarily clamping it, to check the alignment. Then adjust the pocket by trimming a bit off the forward end of the bass side wall. It probably won't take much to bring the neck into alignment with the pickup cavity.

So, change the entry angle of the neck slightly? I don't have the neck for this one, but the neck I have was extremely tight, too tight for comfort, so it would probably solve that issue as well. Thank's.

 

[bassdude51]

Suggestion..............place or mount the neck. The straight line through the neck should match the straight line through the body to the center of the bridge. It's possible that the pickup routing might not be off 2mm. Possible. Maybe. Am I making any sense?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

….or just make your own cool looking pickguard that covers all sins. Or Bondo in the overcut and paint the body.

 

[moon-bass]

Like the others said, check the neck with a pickup first, it might not be as bad as it looks. If that doesn't work, use bondo or wood epoxy (I found that wood epoxy works better) on one side and then route it correctly on the other.

 

[BobKos]

I agree with the posts above to try 'n see. Also - I have seen many MusicMan basses where the poles weren't lined up that perfect, so I personally wouldn't sweat it that much.

 

[singlemalt]

Totally depends on your vision for this bass. Is it going to be painted with a pickguard?

Painted no pickguard. Natural, stained, dyed, rubbed… what’s the vision?

I’d put the neck and bridge on and string it up, then see about how the pole pieces line up.

Lots of basses have a generic route under the pickguard, so you change you mind and go with any pickup. Then it’s all about how ell the pickguard is fitted.

I don’t think we can really see the alignment based on the glue seams between body parts.

2.5mm is only 1/10”. In my book that’s fudge-able.

 

[Otter]

As someone previously suggested, route the hole bigger to center it and then have someone 3D print a plastic bezel to fill the space.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

I they fcked up. Have them send you a new one.

 

[bullshark]

Totally depends on your vision for this bass. Is it going to be painted with a pickguard?

No pickguard, no paint. I was going to stencil some graphics, but beside that leave the wood natural with an oil finish, hence the rear opening for the electronics.

 

[bullshark]

How do you know for sure it's off? Have you put a neck on it, and dropped in a pickup? It looks like it's off, but things can often be persuaded when in place.

EDIT: bruce and I posted at the same time... worth testing it out first

I used a straight edge butted up against the long side of the neck pocket to project the neck all the way down the body.
I have more carving to do on the body, and I wanted to position all the hardware, like the bridge, to make sure I wasn't gonna carve where a piece of hardware has to go.
With that said, I'll now wait to receive its neck, and I'll do like the suggestion above and carve the pocket a little bit to change the angle of the neck, shouldn't need much to get the 2.5mm needed.

 

[C Stone]

Blades maybe? I was just thinking outloud…

 

[ezstep]

My first thought - maybe blades???

 

[Tj smith]

I’d route it bigger for a 5 string pup and build an old smoothie

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Definitely check it once you have the neck. If you can temporarily attach string or something where the E and G will be and manipulate the position of the neck. It doesn’t take much movement at the headstock to make a big difference at the pickup and bridge end.

If that fails the easiest option would be to open up the bass side of the route and make a pickup ring. Someone above suggested 3D printing but it’s really not that tough to make one from wood or pickguard material. For that matter, open up the route to a rectangle and make a shell for the pickup out of wood.

The most effort involved step would be to make the existing route a rectangle, glue in matching wood and route out a new pickup cavity.

 

[Paul New]

Do you have a fireplace?

 

[Gervais Cote]

I would enlarge the pocket and make a pickup ring with the same material as the fretboard and install it flush to the top surface of the body.