Originally Posted by
slejhamer
First and foremost, if you are not comfortable doing this, take it to a good guitar tech.
If you are a DIYer like me, then here are some thoughts:
Get a drill bit slightly smaller than the screws.
Position the bridge and use a pencil to mark where the holes go. (Edit: if it has a template like Elmeaux says, so much the better.)
Use an awl or punch to lightly dimple those spots - this will keep your drill bit from bouncing along the top and marring the finish. (Your bass has a nitrocellulose lacquer finish, I believe, which is far more forgiving and repairable than poly finishes, but why leave it to chance?)
To help keep from drilling too far into the wood, I like to wrap a small piece of masking tape around the drill bit where I want to stop drilling (at the length of the screw threads, usually).
Drill, baby drill. Be careful!
Also, I believe the pickguard is predrilled for the pickup cover, but you may still want to pre-drill into the wood there as well. (Same steps with the awl, too.) This can help keep the wood and finish from cracking when you put in the screws.
Again, if you are not comfortable doing this, take it to a good guitar tech.
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