What are those 3 holes below (above in the pic) the N/M pickup routes under a strat's pickguard? That's always had me wondering...

_________________
[08 MIM Standard Arctic White] > [Danelectro Fish n Chips EQ > Radial Texas Bones OD > Tonerider British Distortion > Electroharmonix Russian Big Muff Pi > Vox V847 Wah] > FM65R

I think the holes are where the jig hold the body in place for a step in the production line, possibly cutting or routing.

My Blackmore(Mexico) has just one small hole in the middle, 3 single coil routing.

Cheers,
Robin

_________________
_________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/robinstrower
_________________________________

That has to be something that has developed in just the last few years. That pic is the first time I've seen that. My newest Strat is a 2004 model and it doesn't have those holes, nor has any Strat I've ever seen opened up.

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

No it goes back a while. It depends on the model, but those are the jig holes that hold the body in place for shaping/routing during the CNC process. Not all strat models have them though. I know for sure MIA standards and MIM standards have them. The holes vary from 1-3.

This American Standard has one


MIM standard


MIM standard tele

There are such holes on vintage Fenders ... except in the old days, the holes were much smaller in diameter (only about 1/4 inch) and they used to plug them dowels or filler.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.