Jazzmaster bridge holes too small

[monchavo]

I have a lovely CAR Jazzmaster body with holes drilled for a US style jazzmaster bridge. Unfortunately the bridge ferrules I have are much larger. "No problem" you cry "just mount the body on a drill press and make larger holes". Well, yes, but I have no access to a drill press and locating someone willing to do it for me has been a challenge. I have a steady hand... and have drilled many a dozen hole in my time... surely widening them "manually" can't be that difficult? Any advice or  :help: :help: much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Cagey]

Oddly enough, for as sloppy as that bridge design is, the ferrule placement for it is pretty critical. And as easy as it sounds to open those holes up a tad, the reality is much different. Even with a drill press, I'd want to slightly overdrill them, plug 'em, and re-drill them to the right diameter. Drilling into an existing hole is almost always a problem, as the bit is going to wander on you. Nothing to center it.

You say the holes are too small - what was it drilled for originally? Perhaps switching to that bridge, using the proper ferrules, might be a better option?

 

[Fat Pete]

Those ferrules ('thimbles') vary quite a bit - a quick search brings up results between 0.31" and 0.353". I think I'd be looking around for some of the smaller ones. Adjusting for variation in the inside diameter would be a lot less risky.

 

[Verne Bunsen]

I spent hours with sand paper wrapped around a dowell slowly, slowly, slowly opening up the thimble holes in my Jazzmaster body.

 

[Rick]

What vb did

 

[BigSteve22]

I spent hours with sand paper wrapped around a dowell slowly, slowly, slowly opening up the thimble holes in my Jazzmaster body.

What vb did

Make that 3 for 3. My JM was drilled for the standard Fender bridge, but I used a Mastery. A little quality time with some sandpaper wrapped around a dowel was all it took... :icon_thumright: