Fender Basses made in Mexico

[Giles Isaac]

I have a road-worn Flea Jazz bass made in Mexico and was surprised to find under the scratch plate / pick guard a hole about 1/2" diameter & quite deep, next to an engraved 'Road-Worn'.
I know some people say this is for indexing a cnc machine but I can't believe this can be correct.
Is this common to all Mexico road-worn basses?

 

[Giles Isaac]

 

[JakobT]

Why do you not believe this is correct?

 

[jd56hawk]

So, what do you think it's for?

 

[Roger W]

And does it matter?

 

[BassmanM]

View attachment 5104703

This has been discussed here a zillion times, at least. That hole has to do with the CNC machine and is totally normal.

 

[Giles Isaac]

Why do you not believe this is correct?

Because the USA and Japan built guitars are made using CNC routers, yet they do not have the same hole.
It's a bit brutal doing that to a musical instrument.

 

[Giles Isaac]

This has been discussed here a zillion times, at least. That hole has to do with the CNC machine and is totally normal.

So why don't the USA and Japan guitars have the same hole?

 

[J Wilson]

So why don't the USA and Japan guitars have the same hole?

I'd think because FMIC, a manufacturing company, probably does not have the exact same machines and software processes at every location where they build instruments. This is common among most companies building similar products in various locations 'round the world.

I worked for a global auto parts OEM manufacturer. Each new plant they added included newer or new technology, and some parts we had long-term contracts required using existing, older mills and simply couldn't be made on new or other machinery elsewhere. Again, this is commonplace, and exactly why some Fenders may have that cylindrical rout . . . and others don't.

And despite their similarities, down at the CAD/CAM and CNC process, a Squier Jazz, a MIM Jazz, a Fender Japan Jazz, etc., are all very different instruments in terms of the actual manufacturing. This is why what seems like what ought to be drop-in replacement or upgrade parts don't always just automatically fit from one to another.

 

[JakobT]

So why don't the USA and Japan guitars have the same hole?

There may be many reasons for this - they might not be using exactly the same CNC machines, and the production process might differ from the one in the Mexican factory in any number of ways.

 

[Relsom]

Because the USA and Japan built guitars are made using CNC routers, yet they do not have the same hole.
It's a bit brutal doing that to a musical instrument.

THIS is brutal...

 

[frankie5string]

It's a bass guitar, not a diamond ring.
It's not as if they drilled a hole right through a precious gem-stone... It's a garden-variety musical instrument.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

It probably also helps to de-authenticate it for anyone trying to pass it off as any sort of vintage and valuable piece.

 

[Killing Floor]

Fender Ensenada also makes basses and guitars without pick guards and without those weird holes. It has nothing to do with CNC mills. But go on and keep believing if you want.

 

[sleddogn]

what's the answer then...

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I have a road-worn Flea Jazz bass made in Mexico and was surprised to find under the scratch plate / pick guard a hole about 1/2" diameter & quite deep, next to an engraved 'Road-Worn'.
I know some people say this is for indexing a cnc machine but I can't believe this can be correct.
Is this common to all Mexico road-worn basses?

This is not Fenders version of a knock out punch to keep somebody selling an item at full retail, if that is what our are thinking. It indeed the hole has to do with the body being manufactured using a CNC machine.

 

[sleddogn]

It has nothing to do with CNC mills. But go on and keep believing if you want.

Sooooo, how can it and can't be at the same time?

 

[Plain Old Barry]

This is not Fenders version of a knock out punch to keep somebody selling an item at full retail, if that is what our are thinking.

My '79 P, made before the Mexican factory existed, has a similar hole under the pickguard.

 

[bassdude51]

When the pickguard is mounted in place..........."what hole?"

 

[Double E]