Your expertise is humbly requested.

Where a hole exists in the scratchplate following the removal of a pot or similar, is there a relatively easy way of covering or filling the hole such that the repair is invisible, or at least not easily visible?

Many thanks.

Hi JohnnyG01: invisible? No.

You could put one of those chrome dome-topped mirror screws into the hole to cover it in a deliberate looking way. And there are white plastic versions of those too.

Alternatively, Forum user Shredd puts LED jewel lights in that position to fill the gap where his volume knob used to be. That's stylish.

Or just order a custom cut pickguard without the offending hole.

Cheers - C

Thanks Ceri. Frankly that was the answer I was expecting but I wanted to hear it from forum gurus rather than rely on my own very limited knowledge.

Currently the hole is blanked using a pickup height screw to go for the 'deliberate' look; it's OK but not brilliant. Could you direct me to where I can find the screws you mention? The white plastic ones may be a better solution than my current effort, and I'm not keen on going down the custom scratchplate route if I can avoid it.

Where are you?

In my country (which may not be yours) I'm talking about this sort of thing - you see how the cap screws into the bolt that goes into the hole:

http://www.centraldisplays.co.uk/mirror-screws-22-c.asp

See how different tops are available for them - though I'm not seeing the white ones on that page. And these seem to be flat, but you can get domed ones as well. Type "mirror screws" into Google and you should find what you are looking for in your own country.

OR. So happens, I was just in a big clothing buttons shop on Friday and I happen to remember seeing all kinds of small buttons that would work. The sort with a tag on the back for sewing it on, rather than holes in the front. Tiny white buttons for evening dress shirts might look nice, for example?

If you are currently using a screw to fill this hole in your 'guard it sounds like it isn't a tone pot hole but smaller. All of the above suggestions kinda depend on having empty air on the underside of the pickguard in this position: it ain't going to work over solid wood unless you just glue it in place.

Any help?

Cheers - C

Ceri, many thanks for your comprehensive response. I hadn't done the necessary mental judo to work out what you meant by mirror screws - it's screws for mirrors, of course! A good example of totally non guitar related materials having utility in the guitar context.

I have free space under the hole so these will do the trick. And I'm in the UK so your link works for me and I am currently looking at what is available. Plus it's a cheap and reversible solution so absolutely ideal.

Thanks again.

Johnny

Ah-ha - then check out www.screwfix.com amongst others for mirror screws. You obviously need the bolt type rather than the wood screw type, if you want to fix it from the rear. The bolts will very likely be too long - but you can just chop 'em off short with a hacksaw.

And do I remember seeing mirror screws sold singly for pennies at B&Q, Robert Dyas, Jewsons and other such places? I believe I do...

Good luck - C

Good Stuff chaps!

I like Shreds LED fitting. Looks pretty cool!

For a super quick fix, why not rob one of these from a bit of flat pack furniture?



A blob of blue-tac on the cavity side of the pickguard and your in business!

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Cheers Ceri, I will do some interweb research and then hie me to B&Q.

Andy, I may well end up using a screw cap, thanks for that. I'm after a discreet fix so I'm not considering the LED solution.

Thanks chaps.

Johnny

I would think the easiest way to deal with it would be to simply leave the disconnected pot in there with a knob on top of it. YMMV.

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You dig?

Martian, it's actually the hole left following the removal of the blue LED battery light on my VG Strat. I wasn't specific because it's just a hole in the scratchplate that needs covering (I didn't want to put anyone to the trouble of looking the VG Strat up) and I was just after a general answer.

Johnny