Leaderboard

. I wonder if anyone has done an MDF guard? Not a bad guess and would look good. But I’ll put you all out of your misery. It’s going to be a semi transparent tort. But using a solid back so you can’t see electronics.

Looks like MDF OK, serious head on, aluminium?

Hahaha! No, but what a guitar that would be… I wonder if they do scratchplate material like that, if not why should!

Red-check gingham..?

Yeah, about that.... Anyway, despite my less-than-top-quality soldering, I got lucky and had the wires hooked up the right way first time round. Job done!

Thanks for the reply and advice. Yes I am old enough to remember 2BA, life was much less rushed back then, I had a Rapier 44, sold it on didn't think I'd want one back years later. Yes I forgot F-Bullets were plain with no winding, that might be the more favourable solution if it works. Would like to stay on 9s but might have to go 10s. Either way I'll try all of your suggestions and report back, Thanks

I recognise the problem (in the UK I was based in Shepperton, with the Watkins works nearby in Chertsey...). It would seem that the ball-end windings don't like the exit from the saddle. As an experiment, try passing a new string through a spare ball-end (you seem to have a few..!), such that the ball can't sit so far down in the seating. This may keep the twisty windings further down, so not on the break angle. A 2BA nut could work, too (you're of an age to know what a 2BA is, no..?). My second recommendation would be to try another brand I use Elixir, but used Fender Bullets for years; they have the ball-end 'slug' moulded into the string, so no twisty bit... If you're married to 9's, that's fine, but they're easier to break than 10's; try upping the gauge, to see..? Report back with progress, successful or not, please..?

Do it the simple way. Connect it up as best you can, with provision for swapping if it's not the right way round. It's far easier to do than messing about identifying, only to find that it's the opposite once you've worked it all out. Just make sure that your soldering is top quality, try it out before closing it all up, and swap if (when..?) it's wrong. Hope this helps.