Filling a pickup rout. Resin? Wood+panel filler?

[NancyJohnson]

I have a little project upcoming and need to plug a Jazz bass pickup rout; I'm thinking about either filling it with resin (which is preferred) or a combination of a rough sawn plug glued in and then panel filler, then painting.  The rout isn't going to be used for a replacement pickup, so long as it's smooth after painting, it'll be fine.

 

Concerning a resin pour, no idea what resin I need.  Guess I only need about 125ml and am loathed to buy a huge amount I'll end up throwing away.  

 

Suggestions?

[songofthewind]

Plug then fill.

[PaulThePlug]

Just leave it! The body won't mind...

Edited August 8, 2025 by PaulThePlug

[NancyJohnson]

3 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

Just leave it! The body won't mind...

 

I will!

 

[Joe Nation]

You can do it quick or you can do it right...

[PaulThePlug]

Which Pup? Presume Bridge, Maybe an Ashtray? If Neck, paybe a scratch plate without the pickup hole?

I just found this on AliExpress: 
￡16.99 | FeiMan Custom Quality Pickguard For US 10 Holes 5 String Jazz Bass Guitar Pickguard Blank Scratch Plate Multicolor Flame Pattern
https://a.aliexpress.com/_EIdM53G

 

Edited August 8, 2025 by PaulThePlug

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

When I did something similar many years ago I used car filler from halfords. The route was almost invisible once the body was painted but it was under the pickguard anyway so it didn't really matter.

 

For something like a PJ bass where the J pickup wasn't needed, I'd just leave a J pickup in it even if it wasn't plumbed-in.

[NancyJohnson]

To clarify, it's a bridge jazz pickup.  No custom scratch plates, ashtrays etc.  Remove, fill, forget.

 

End of.

[Chiliwailer]

I used Ronseal High Performance Wood Filler recently on a bass, it’s fine in deep holes in one application and sands nicely. 

[rmorris]

9 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

Just leave it! The body won't mind...

 

Exactly. Look at it as "Surface Chambering / Weight Relief) 😊 And if you, or anyone, wishes to put a pickup back in there then it's a plus.