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Where to place my precision bridge cover

Dezter

Dezter

Apr 4, 2011
113
55
Colorado
#1
So my new fender precision bridge cover just came in today. I want to know what people are doing to place their bridge cover on. There's no diagram to follow, so I would like to know what size drill to use, how deep, and what landmarks are used to get it on straight. I know people may just eyeball it but i wanna throw it out there anyways.

Any help will be greatly appreciately. I'll get pictures up tonight after it's installed.

Thanks!

Bass:
97 Fender American Standard Precision
Inca Silver body w/ rosewood neck
blackpickguard
also got a thumbrest with the cover, but I didn't realize it was going to be that big. So I'll probably return that
 
#3
Just freeball it, I don't think there is a set standard. If there is, the difference would be small it wouldn't be anything to fret about.

Just take your time, don't crack the finish. Use pickguard screws to hold it down.
 
#7
Here is a good pic from the Fender site.

Make sure it isn't touching the bridge or strings.

0190116800_frt_wmd_001.jpg
 
#8
Put some masking tape over the area that you are going to drill through to minimize chipping the finish. Put a piece of tape on the drill bit at the depth that you want for the screws so that you don't drill in too far. For positioning you can either eyeball it or take measurments from the bridge. The masking tape will come in handy here for marking the holes.

Rick B.
 
#9
Also, before getting the cover anywhere near the bass, you will want to check the underside of the mounting flanges (especially the screw-holes) for burrs that you will have to file so you don't scratch the finish on your bass.
 
#11
I would say place it on your table and use it as an ashtray!

They look great put are a nightmare to play with, even more so if you use a pic!

I tried mine on because it was an old bass that was already drilled, if i was you i would use double face tape to stick it on a few weeks, see if you like it before you drill!
 
#14
I like 'em. The ashtrays give me a place to put my wrist when using a pick either above or below the pickup and they give me a place to put my thumb when using fingers, which is most of the time. They don't interfere with slapping and popping, either. I thought they would when I put them on for the first time, but they are actually just fine for that. The only thing they make a little difficult is palm muting, but I don't do that anyway.
 
#16
I might have to get one to try on my P project... Would look pretty sharp with the milky turquoise color!

my playing style isn't anywhere near the bridge, so it won't get in my way at all AND it might actually help the terrible balance problem that a heavy neck and a GFS body creates.
 

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#18
Going to try to attach both of the covers using very thin double-sided tape so it's reversible and no holes drilled. If it works I'll rig up a way to hold some fake screw-heads in place, mebbe cut the heads off and glue 'em to the covers.
 
#19
I thought about doing that for my old lakland 5502 pickguard "gluing screw heads in place"...but I'll probably keep this p bass for a long time so the holes won't bother me as much. It'll probably hurt the resale value (if that at all) if I decide to let it go.

Post some pics!!
 
#20
Actually - PG screws are not the same (official) size as the cover screws.

Then there's the vintage US screws and their head sizes, thread-shaft diameter and the actual Phillips designation.

The Korean and Japanese screw heads are basically the same for the screw driver pattern (JIS) but the Indonesian and Mexican/US versions are all a different size.

Then there's nickel plated, true chrome and also black, gold and maybe even somewhere pink screws for the month of October.

So - what's it matter? Not much if you don't care - but a real Fender/Squier nut would spot the wrong screws from 200 feet.
 

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