Stringing a Thunder

So far the only thing I don't like about my 1984 Thunder 1A (3rd edition) is the dratted string holes in the hardtail bridge. It's such a pain to get the strings though them and doesn't bode at all well for replacing a broken string at a gig. Is there anything I can do about this to make it as easy as a Fender hardtail?

Just like a Tele, hard tail strat, westone thunder.
Grin and bear it.

Ever tried it with used, squiggle end, strings. Talk about curse.

Worth it when it's done though.

hmm, I do have a hardtail guitar - my Eccleshall Scimitar - and it's definitely the easiest guitar I have for restringing. Westone have made a pig's ear of something that could have been perfect. Perhaps I'll try to push some plastic tubes into the holes, so the strings have some vague idea of where to go, and maybe then they'll realise that there's actually somebody waiting for them to show up at the other end. At the moment you would think there was some really exciting string-oriented social activity going on in there.

Sort of like a "ghost in the machine"? Great description.... I assume you're talking about the string ferrules at the back, are you??

I don't think I've ever had a string through guitar design that wasn't a pain to restring, particularly the trebels.
Even if the string isn't twisty I can never easily find the um, hole.

After all this time though, you would think that Fender would have made it easier to do if there was a demand for it. But apparently there ain't. The reason, I would suspect, is that a "tube" or conduit would interfere with the transmission of string energy to the body hence defeating the advantage of the string through design. So don't mess with a good thing!

Hello all, i'm new here so please forgive any lack of etiquette. i love that there are other westone lovers out there. I have a Ibanez Rg570, Fender Strat and still find my old thunder 1 better to play. I keep a small drinks straw, tapered at 1 end, push in from top of guitar until it appears at rear, thread string, pull through then remove straw. Doesn't work so well with my strat though. Hope this helps.

Neat idea, thanks for the tip.
Just gotta remember to keep a straw or two in the gig bag!

Just in case your nose gets dry

Stay off the beer and stick with cola and dont forget to ask for a straw!

Broody blirriant! I wouldn't have thought of that! Thanks :-) By the way, I repeat, my Eccleshall hardtail restrings in the twinkling of an eye - so someone has got it right at least.

IanO wrote:Hello all, i'm new here so please forgive any lack of etiquette. i love that there are other westone lovers out there. I have a Ibanez Rg570, Fender Strat and still find my old thunder 1 better to play. I keep a small drinks straw, tapered at 1 end, push in from top of guitar until it appears at rear, thread string, pull through then remove straw. Doesn't work so well with my strat though. Hope this helps.

So does my Vantage VA900.... Liking the straw idea!! I usually leave the trem covers off the back of trem equipped guitars simply because they're so bloody hard to re-string on the fly, so that's a good tip!!

I shall try it with a straw slit along it's length...

How do you get a straw down the back of a Thunder hardtail?? The hole is 3.18mm!

I,ve restrung many a Thunder or similar , to many to mention, and never experienced a problem. You might have to fish about once or twice but that;s no big deal. By the time you've fiddled with a straw down the back, you could of restrug the darm thing anyway.

The straw i keep handy is from a "Capri Sun" type drink Squishy pouch) - the kids have 'em in their lunch boxes for school. You have to taper it like a quill nib at quite an shallow angle. It can then be pushed in from the top until enough of the tip sticks out as a guide for the string. Wire insulation could work also ( the brown, blue or green/yellow (UK) not the outer stuff!.......maybe I've just let my £million making idea public.......

That should work quite nicely Westbone, unless yer not prone to drinking juice.

You could try the small straws that come with switch cleaner and air duster cans.

I guess most people on this forum have had to revive a scratchy Matsumoku control pot or five in the past!

DAN.

Not that it can't be done but who needs it?????

As far as straws are concerned, it sucks . on it.