Thimbles too big & crew size for Jazzmaster Tremolo

[monchavo]

I have managed to purchase a lovely Fender Jazzmaster tremolo unit.........without the accompanying screws. Very silly of me. What size/type screw is most recommended?

Also, the body I have has very small holes indeed for the bridge - in fact they're significantly too small in diameter for the thimbles. I suppose gently enlarging the holes through the use of a carefully applied drill is the best way forward? (I have no drill press)... alternatively I have a reamer (but that creates a conical hole I imagine...)

 

[rolloman]

If you can measure the diameter of the thimble or get it from the manufacturer I will use my drill press to make you a straight hole through a fairly thick piece of hardwood block that you can place over the the thimble hole and hold it there while drilling to keep the drill bit straight (perpendicular) to the body while using a hand drill. No charge just cover the shipping probably less than $5. I also have a few straight fluted reamers for a hand drill that will not make a conical hole they are a lot easier to control than a drill bit. You can borrow those if you would like. I just completed putting 3/8" thimbles in a strat body using this method a few days ago. Turned out perfectly. If need be the block could have progressively small to the final diameter needed so that you can sneak up on the final diameter for much easier and more accurate drilling.

 

[BigSteve22]

I have managed to purchase a lovely Fender Jazzmaster tremolo unit.........without the accompanying screws. Very silly of me. What size/type screw is most recommended?

I used #6x1/2", oval head screws on m JM tailpiece. I believe the standard Fender screws are 3/4" long, but the 1/2" worked just fine.