the Fly Clone Project

Hello again
So I’m replacing the Pre Refined Classic saddles with Graph Tech Ghost saddles.
I am struggling finding a spot I could drill a 5/16” hole as suggested for the leads.
Do you think it would be ok to leave them draped over the top with the control plate put over them?
Is there a place I could drill that big a hole without compromising anything and without any parts touching the leads?
Thank you in advance!

Hi. Sorry to intrude, but you'll find that the pre-refined saddles are superior to the Ghost saddles. and that the fishman preamp is better sounding than the ghost preamp. Just sayin'
Now I don't have any data as to why you're changing. Maybe your ribbon is shot or your saddles are dead. But if you're not at a dead end with the pre-refined system, then I'd get it working rather than replacing it.
My un-asked for 2 cents!
Cheers,
Patrick

I appreciate your thoughts.
It’s funny, cause I’ve seen your opinion and I’ve seen the opposite.
On this site I believe there’s an internal memo from Parker (perhaps after Ken left) stating the Graph Tech saddles are superior.
Regardless, this was a pawn shop guitar in semi-rough shape and I noticed some damage to the ribbon cables so I gutted it.

Presence76 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2020 7:43 pm there’s an internal memo from Parker (perhaps after Ken left) stating the Graph Tech saddles are superior.

Yeah, I remember when I first read that memo; it’s an odd claim in principle. The original saddles were stainless steel and the Graphtech ones are not and, as such, they sound “different”. It’s a subtle difference, in my opinion, but, hey: isn’t discussing those subtleties why we’re all here?

I’d also like to point out that @Patzag’s “2 cents” have really held their value over time despite the current fiscal climate, so...ya know, adjusted for inflation, they’re probably closer to like 6 or 7 cents!!

Presence76 wrote: ↑Fri Aug 07, 2020 8:18 pm Hello again
So I’m replacing the Pre Refined Classic saddles with Graph Tech Ghost saddles.
I am struggling finding a spot I could drill a 5/16” hole as suggested for the leads.
Do you think it would be ok to leave them draped over the top with the control plate put over them?
Is there a place I could drill that big a hole without compromising anything and without any parts touching the leads?
Thank you in advance!

For the Flys I’ve rewired from prerefined or USM-era to PTP Graphtech/Hexpander, I enlarged the factory piezo lead channel (circled in red on someone else’s photo I pulled from google) and pulled each Ghost lead (two wires and a plug) through one at a time.

Great to know!! Thanks for chiming in with that very useful info.