Mystery hole under pickguard

[scuzzy]

I was never a fan of the midnight wine finish, but with the black guard... It has changed my mind.

 

[Pirate Captain]

 

[garp]

That's the hole where the Alien lays its eggs. So if there's no egg in there when you remove the pickguard, that simply means the baby alien has already hatched. Hence, you might want to sleep with one eye open tonight.

 

[lug]

I hear Fender is trying to get into the new pellet grill business with larger sized pellets and didn't want to invest in actual wood costs. You are a victim of this scheme.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

View attachment 4743107 I was swapping a white pickguard for a black one on a recently acquired used MIM Jazz. I came across this perfectly round hole and am wondering what gives? Someone has to know why this was drilled? My TV detective brain says someone at the factory did it and was going to put a tiny note in there that said. “I’m being held hostage in this Fender factory, come save me!” Hope that’s not it because this is a 2002 or so….

Router mount. Not all bodies have them though. But that's what it is

 

[BassFalcon]

I don't see it as a hole - I see it as an opportunity.

For what? I don't know. Still working on that.

Diorama or a snow globe.

 

[creaturegods]

View attachment 4743107 I came across this perfectly round hole and am wondering what gives?

With a couple more strategically-drilled holes, you could turn this Jazz Bass body into a fully-functioning weed pipe.

 

[B-flat?]

That's where the button goes to paralyze the keyboard play's left hand, if he get out of line.

 

[Cave Puppy]

A "hole" lot of nothing for a ... hole.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

I had the hole on my Jazz Bass professionally filled.

 

[fhm555]

I don't see it as a hole - I see it as an opportunity.

For what? I don't know. Still working on that.

A nice location for a big bat handle producer switch with a handle that glows red when it was “on”, maybe?

 

[bassdude51]

An inaccessible ash tray.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It's used to hold templates for drilling screw holes for strap buttons, bridge, etc. You can see it in use here around 2:45 on a telecaster. These are MIM bodies, but the holes can be found on American bodies from the early 2000's, the CNC used in the US shop eventually was moved to Mexico along with its programs and templates.

 

[GretschWretch]

Neither my '69, '71, nor '76 P basses have this hole. I feel cheated.

 

[Vitrius Humor]

"Tex" Hooper - "Manhole Inspector" (Norm McDonald) - YouTube

 

[mindwell]

I like to be able to play my Jazzes out au naturel without pickguard, so this is enough to put me off buying most MIM and some MIA instruments.

 

[Hot Rats]

Wrong hole in this picture, but it's for one of these..... especially with a clear pickguard.

 

[Hasty]

Neither my '69, '71, nor '76 P basses have this hole. I feel cheated.

Rejoice in knowing you can rectify this oversight... Then you too can own an incredibly rare CNC machined '69 Fender. Literally one of a kind.

 

[Spidey2112]

The white clearly had to go, but it was a tough decision between black or dark red tort.

The white guard doesn't look bad... try parchment, if you can. Softens the look overall, and looks great with solid colors.

 

[happygilmour]

Weight reduction hole.