mcnach Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I bought a used Jazz pickguard that had a mysterious hole in the middle, just above the neck pickup. Odd, I thought. Then I got a cheap body off ebay... which has the very same hole! what is it for? see pics below: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kongo Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I have absolutely no clue. :-/ Could be from another model? I say this because (and forgive me if I'm wrong) I see a truss rod adjuster @ the headstock, yet the body also has a cutaway for one @ the heel under the scratch plate...So it seems these bodies are used for more than one model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [size=1][b]errr... to secure cheap pickguards to cheap bodies, maybe?[/b][/size] To the best of my knowledge, no original Fender Jazz body ever had that screw hole in that position. and its not those for the for the pickup covers, either because those were drilled by either side of the neck pickup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Standard for 60s & 70s Jazzes - its probably just to keep it flat as the old celluloid ones were prone to warp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 (edited) ^+1.Theres one on my little piccy thing. Edited June 3, 2011 by hillbilly deluxe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schnozzalee Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Solved! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kongo Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Learning new stuff every day...Obviously never seen those Fenders before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 (edited) Old vintage US and MIJ jazzers have this hole. US jazzes no longer have them, the MIJ jazzes still do. If you have a vintage reissue Jazz or MIJ it will have a wee screw in that hole. If you ever need any more random useless info about Jazzers, I'm your man! Edited June 3, 2011 by gjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I've seen them advertised as "70s" pickguards but I never knew what the hole was for either. Glad you asked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='mcnach' post='1255786' date='Jun 3 2011, 06:40 PM']I bought a used Jazz pickguard that had a mysterious hole in the middle, just above the neck pickup. Odd, I thought. Then I got a cheap body off ebay... which has the very same hole! what is it for? ...[/quote] Actually, when you bring the two holes into alignment it opens a gateway to an alternate dimension. Use it wisely my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Some bodies have a penny sized hole where the body is held during painting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarcher Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 My Jazz has that little hole,and its so you can get an allen key in to adjust the truss rod. Sorry if I've spoiled your guessing games but thats what its for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomBassmonkey Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 I don't think they're talking about that hole, I'm guessing it's about the small screw hole between that cut out and the pickup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='ped' post='1255977' date='Jun 3 2011, 09:39 PM']Some bodies have a penny sized hole where the body is held during painting[/quote] Yup. My MIA S1 Jazz has this. It's about the size of an old (circa 1900) penny. It'd be a bloody eyesore if it weren't under the pickguard. What's wrong with screwing a cuphook into the hole for the upper horn strap-button and hanging the body from that during finishing/drying. This and ropey routing really spoil jazz basses, as you can't really play them without a pickguard or with a clear one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarcher Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 [quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1255989' date='Jun 3 2011, 09:49 PM']I don't think they're talking about that hole, I'm guessing it's about the small screw hole between that cut out and the pickup.[/quote] Ah yes ,I see now. At a guess it looks like a small screw hole doesn't it. Wonder why they put that there, Any ideas anyone, Oh isn't that what this threads about. Never mind I'll get me coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Once the pickguard starts to lift it becomes almost like a little drum with a very percussive clack if you go through with your fingers as I sometimes do exactly where that extra screw is placed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 (edited) [quote name='gjones' post='1255861' date='Jun 3 2011, 07:40 PM']Old vintage US and MIJ jazzers have this hole. US jazzes no longer have them, the MIJ jazzes still do. If you have a vintage reissue Jazz or MIJ it will have a wee screw in that hole. If you ever need any more random useless info about Jazzers, I'm your man![/quote] Ha, Ha, as I said above, there's no mystery! The original Jazz Basses had this screw because Mr Fender obviously though it was needed to keep the scratchplate down. In the eighties they realised it was unnecessry and from then on the scratchplates had no screw in the middle. In Japan they continued to fit the screw in the middle of the scratchplate and if you buy a reissue US Jazz, for that authentic look, they have a screw in the middle of the scratchplate too. Right! Now that that's settled, let's all go back to arguing whether Musicmans are better than Fenders (it's been a while). Edited June 3, 2011 by gjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='gjones' post='1256083' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:50 PM']...because Mr Fender obviously though it was needed to keep the scratchplate down. In the eighties they realised it was unnecessry[/quote] Not quite how it was. The pickguard material used in the 60s was prone to warping, so without the hole, the guard could lift in this area. The cheaper modern material they used in the 80s was more stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prime_BASS Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='gjones' post='1256083' date='Jun 3 2011, 11:50 PM']Ha, Ha, as I said above, there's no mystery! The original Jazz Basses had this screw because Mr Fender obviously though it was needed to keep the scratchplate down. In the eighties they realised it was unnecessry and from then on the scratchplates had no screw in the middle. In Japan they continued to fit the screw in the middle of the scratchplate and if you buy a reissue US Jazz, for that authentic look, they have a screw in the middle of the scratchplate too. Right! Now that that's settled, let's all go back to arguing whether Musicmans are better than Fenders (it's been a while).[/quote] Musicman hands down..... I've seen this hole on 60's Japanese reissues, but then those come with the earth strip most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='Prime_BASS' post='1256171' date='Jun 4 2011, 07:37 AM']Musicman hands down.....[/quote] Without a shadow of a doubt. Phew that was a good argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='Prime_BASS' post='1256171' date='Jun 4 2011, 07:37 AM']I've seen this hole on 60's Japanese reissues, but then those come with the earth strip most of the time.[/quote] yep - my mij 60's reissue has both the extra screw and the earth strip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='Prime_BASS' post='1256171' date='Jun 4 2011, 07:37 AM']Musicman hands down..... I've seen this hole on 60's Japanese reissues, but then those come with the earth strip most of the time.[/quote] [quote name='Ou7shined' post='1256249' date='Jun 4 2011, 10:14 AM']Without a shadow of a doubt. Phew that was a good argument.[/quote] And without any input from me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' post='1255810' date='Jun 3 2011, 07:06 PM'] Standard for 60s & 70s Jazzes - its probably just to keep it flat as the old celluloid ones were prone to warp[/quote] aaah! I never noticed that! I was thinking of pickkup covers, thumbrests etc, but of course in that position nothing made sense! INteresting that Jazz basses had that... but not Precision basses... at least I cannot find one with that, and I'd imagine the same issue would apply (keeping pickguard flat). Strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='Kongo' post='1255802' date='Jun 3 2011, 06:56 PM']I have absolutely no clue. :-/ Could be from another model? I say this because (and forgive me if I'm wrong) I see a truss rod adjuster @ the headstock, yet the body also has a cutaway for one @ the heel under the scratch plate...So it seems these bodies are used for more than one model?[/quote] oh yes... the neck is from a Sue Ryder P-bass that I had left over, and the body is something I just got on ebay from a "90s bass", it was suggested to me it may have been a Korean Squier, but they weren't sure. I'm not convinced, but it doesn't matter. It was solid wood, the right colour, and the right price... so I bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 [quote name='Ou7shined' post='1255966' date='Jun 3 2011, 09:32 PM']Actually, when you bring the two holes into alignment it opens a gateway to an alternate dimension. Use it wisely my friend.[/quote] do you think it could be used like a "beam me up Scotty" sort of thing, for gigs that are not going well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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