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MIM Pbass pickguard frustration

Are you certain that its a Fender body?

Yes, I am certain. I know the original owner as well. It was apparently a very sloppy job done to route out the cavity. With the original guard on with all its screws, the gap cannot be seen, but there is no wiggle room, definitely.
I ordered a genuine Fender guard so if it doesn't fit, I'm putting on the scratched original white one and calling it a day. This is starting to stress me out and it's not worth it.
I missed your post. Sorry.

I ordered a Fender 099-2160-000. Maybe this is one of those 'MIA is a better choice' thing. It seems to me that they must be just putting the PG's on, quickly drilling screw holes and just shipping it out.
I thought it would have to have been CNC'd but I'm not sure when Fender went to all CNC production. The body has the CNC alignment hole underneath the PG, though, so I have to wonder if the PG holes are CNC'd as well. Does anybody know if PG holes are manually done or cnc'd? Thanks.
 
Don't know if anybody still cares, but I finally got a REAL Fender pickguard the other day. I did a lose-fit test on it. I will have to remove the neck to go any further because I need to shave about a 1/16 inch (a wild guess at this point) off the neck pocket area. Only after that will I know how the screw holes line up. The pickup area is also too small because even though the pickups are touching one another and are tight in the pickup pocket, I'll have to shave some material off that area as well.
I'll know more in a few days.
 
It's a Fender 099 2160 000 (white pearl). There is no notch for the truss rod at the neck joint. We'll see. I've never seen a PG listed for MIM ONLY. If you know of one, I'd sure like to know about it.
 
A MIM Standard and the MIA Standard have a different screw hole pattern and the there is a difference in the pick guard at the base of the neck. They will not interchange.

The MIM and AS have the same screw pattern. The AVRI and Standard Genuine Fender Standard pg's also share a 13 hole mounting pattern...

Where are you people getting these pick guards that don't fit?
 
My belief is that maybe the older MIM's are a little iffy with fit issues. Maybe a 2008 MIM will have better luck with a genuine Fender guard, versus a '99/'00 Pbass.
That being said, I still have not seen a real part number for a separate MIM guard.
I still believe that a AS should fit a MIM. Otherwise, why would they produce genuine Fender guards without the truss rod notch?
I did my homework, but still did not find out whether certain MIM's are a better match for the genuine PG. From what I have read, a AS should fit a MIM, but as I said, I don't know if there is any definitive documentation on MIM-years fit issues.
 
A MIM Standard and the MIA Standard have a different screw hole pattern and the there is a difference in the pick guard at the base of the neck. They will not interchange.

I think you're wrong about the screw pattern - AFAIK, they are the same for both MIA and MIM, except for the Deluxe series... It's true that the truss rod adjuster access won't be there for the MIMs, but that's easily fixed...


- georgestrings
 
Thanks for all the replies. I gave up. I had the day off so I already shielded the original white guard. I have too much time and money in this bass, and it's going to be my flats axe. New pots, '62 originals, Sadowsky Black Label flats. I want it done for next weekend and this thing has consumed me for too long. Time to move on and forget about a few 'not noticeable from the crowd' scratches in the original PG. Life is too short. I have a feeling I won't be too concerned with getting a few scratches here and there on the bass itself, and I also think it will be nice to play out in some of the dives we play at and not worry about mojo-in' up my bass.
Cheers.
 
It's a Fender 099 2160 000 (white pearl). There is no notch for the truss rod at the neck joint. We'll see. I've never seen a PG listed for MIM ONLY. If you know of one, I'd sure like to know about it.


I bought a genuine Fender pearl white pick guard for my MIM Fender Jazz, and it fit perfectly right out of the package. No shaving, filling, or drilling of anything was required. Sorry, I don't remember where I got it from, but it was an authorized Fender dealer, and it specifically said that the PG was for a MIM bass.
 
I stand corrected about the screwhole pattern. Here's a place that sells pickguards with clear details on what bass they fit: Link Removed

Meanwhile, something occurred to me: Bumperbass, was your ill-fitting pickguard intended for a 5-stringer by any chance?

Nope. It's a Fender 099 2160 000. I just checked basspartsresource and they list this same pickguard. It might have fit if I would have trimmed where it hits the neck pocket, but I'm out of time this week and was sick of working on it. I know when it's time to quit...when I can't get to sleep at night over a stinking pickguard.
 
Often times, parts will be sold as Genuine Fender when they are in fact "Licenced by" Fender. Usually, this is where problems can arise. If a part or pickgaurd comes in any other packaging aside from that of Fender, it is most likely a "licensed" part and there is a risk of it not being up to the tolerances that would suit the application. Lots of places sell aftermarket as Genuine Fender, unfortunately.
 
Often times, parts will be sold as Genuine Fender when they are in fact "Licenced by" Fender. Usually, this is where problems can arise. If a part or pickgaurd comes in any other packaging aside from that of Fender, it is most likely a "licensed" part and there is a risk of it not being up to the tolerances that would suit the application. Lots of places sell aftermarket as Genuine Fender, unfortunately.

It came in a Fender package. I'm done. Thanks anyway.
 
The slight gap I'm talking about is an inch LONG, not WIDE. There is barely enough pickguard to cover the control area. On the bass I'm currently shielding and installing new electronics, you can almost see the gap with the OLD (original) pickguard. I know it's the stock guard because I know the previous owner. So, it's the same issue with 3 different pickguards on two MIM basses, one is a '99, one is a 2000.

Just got a pickguard from Stratosphere today. Took 10 days to get here via USPS so it arrived while I was out of town. Went to install it today and I too had a very large and noticeable gap between the guard and the electronics cover. Oddly though the screws align perfectly.

Needless to say I contacted them immediately for a refund or exchange. Would be happy to let everyone know how it works out.

Also, would anyone like to see a picture of the large gap? I could see the wires underneath and it shows in the picture...
 
The authentic Fender PG I paid $50 for from an authorised Fender repairer didn't fit my MIM J, they couldn't source a specific MIM one, so they say,what is it with authentic Fender shops? no friggin idea!
So I bought a $10 tort pg from China,all it needed was a shave around the neck area and it fit perfectly, except I scratched it , but they sent me a free replacement,and in the meantime I coloured in the scratch with felt pen and I can't even tell where it is,so I have a spare one now,and they cost me $5 each. THEY knew MIM and MIA are different.