Squire CV Jazz Chrome Control Plate

[jim_bass]

The chrome control plate on my Classic Vibe jazz has gone really cloudy and looks terrible. I've already taken the plate off as I needed to replace the jack socket. So, I've tried cleaning the control plate with various household products - vinegar/water, toothpaste, mr muscle oven cleaner etc. Nothing is cleaning it up. Next idea was brasso but I don't want to waste money on it if it won't work.

I've also looked at buying a genuine fender control plate, but after a bit of reading on the internet, am concerned that it wont line up properly with the squier pickguard - don't have the money to replace everything!

Any suggestions? Is there something that will definitely clean it up? Are there after market chrome plates that are designed for a squire?

[Ou7shined]

My guess is that as toothpaste is an abrasive you've already scoobied it.
Re-plating might be the only option (other than replacing it). Could be a bit of a pain to do though if you don't have a chromers near by.

[jim_bass]

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1321131702' post='1435798']
My guess is that as toothpaste is an abrasive you've already scoobied it.
[/quote]

Bugger!

Do you think a fender plate will fit?

[Ou7shined]

No idea mate.
I'm sure if you buy one and it doesn't that you'll be able to re-sell it on here without losing too much on it.

[icastle]

[quote name='jim_bass' timestamp='1321132424' post='1435817']
Do you think a fender plate will fit?
[/quote]

Well, the screw holes might not line up exactly but the overall shape will be similar - I'm reckoning that Fender won't have bothered tweaking the design much over the product range.

I bought an aftermarket scratchplate for my JB and ended up with less than a mm gap between the plate and scratchplate - I'm just too lazy to do anything about it.

Provided you're prepared to fill the old screw holes and drill some new pilot holes I reckon it should be a reasonably good fit - and don't forget, you can probably get an extra little bit of adjustment if you slacken off the pickguard screws.

[Mr. Foxen]

Chrome is really hard, I think toothpaste is just chalk powder, so probably won't have scratched it.

[icastle]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1321186517' post='1436161']
Chrome is really hard, I think toothpaste is just chalk powder, so probably won't have scratched it.
[/quote]

True, but milkiness of the finish seems to generally indicate a poor quality plating process and no amount of polishing is going to resolve that.

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='jim_bass' timestamp='1321132424' post='1435817']
Bugger!

Do you think a fender plate will fit?
[/quote]

You could try giving Fender a call and ask if they can supply you a CV one first, or even look on ebay.

[Cygnus x-1]

If you have a look on eBay you'll see that some of the J control plates for sale have a dimensional drawing in the blurb. You could find a few, take a few mesurments and make a card template of the one thats closest to yours, then, if it's the same you could buy it.

A friend of mine also had the same complaint as you on his CV J and he replaced it with a black one off eBay, usually they are available in chrome, black & gold colour so you will probably be ok on eBay, hope this is some help.

[SteveTredgett]

Autosol, the best chrome / metal polish in the world used it on motorbike bits all the time

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Cygnus x-1' timestamp='1321221070' post='1436738']
If you have a look on eBay you'll see that some of the J control plates for sale have a dimensional drawing in the blurb. You could find a few, take a few mesurments and make a card template of the one thats closest to yours, then, if it's the same you could buy it.

A friend of mine also had the same complaint as you on his CV J and he replaced it with a black one off eBay, usually they are available in chrome, black & gold colour so you will probably be ok on eBay, hope this is some help.
[/quote]

Any chance of getting the ebay shop link from your mate?
I was looking at mine last night and it too is getting a bit tarnished, and i quite fancy getting a black one.

No problem if you cant, ill go looking for one at the weekend.

[Cygnus x-1]

Dave, says he can't remember which seller, but he's pretty sure it was the same size as a gen Fender one. There are plenty for sale on the bay with dimensional pictures, so a quick compare with a ruler on yours should tell you for definate.

There was a post on talkbass, (just can't find it at the mo) of a guy modding a cv jazz, that had a lot of info (he fit a black one) could have been something like; 'perfect fitting parts for Squiers'. hope this helps.
Nick.

[bremen]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1322567411' post='1452645']
Any chance of getting the ebay shop link from your mate?
I was looking at mine last night and it too is getting a bit tarnished, and i quite fancy getting a black one.

No problem if you cant, ill go looking for one at the weekend.
[/quote]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-CHROME-BLANK-ELECTRICS-PLATE-FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-/150671381346?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item2314b6d362

[dave_bass5]

Cheers Nick. I know the thread you're talking about, ill have a look in there. I have seen a Orange Squier with a black plate and PG, i dont think it was a CV though.

Breman. Thanks for that link. Im going to email they guy and see fi he knows whether ti will fit but at that price im tempted to just get it. I do fancy a black one though.

[Cygnus x-1]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Control-Plate-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-Repair-Part-/400249450841?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item5d30b9f159

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-jazz-bass-guitar-switch-control-plate-M16-/130593735472?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&var=&hash=item6420229c07

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quality-Jazz-bass-guitar-control-plate-blank-chrome-black-gold-/370563802121?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&var=&hash=item9504173d36

3 black ones here Dave, you may have to e-mail about perfect fit though.
Nick

[dave_bass5]

Cheers Nick, emails sent to the relevant sellers.