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If you want to be able to play in any key you have to compromise, hence equal temperament with all notes fixed, but now intervals in all keys are slightly wrong. Then again pythagorean tuning isn't perfect either, since by constructing the whole scale on perfect fifths (okay, it is perfect) you mess up the other intervals more ("so badly out of tune that major chords [may be considered] a dissonance" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_tuning) and that's just within the key. On the guitar you're further limited by the fact that the same note appears on different strings, this means equal temperament has the further benefit you can actually achieve it (modulo setup issues) with appropriate fret placing. @mart's link http://www.edgeguitarservices.co.uk/scheitenballs/ is very good.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh143/werdnayarg/Wire1a.jpg
This is due to a 'lap' in the wire where an impurity in the raw material has been drawn down into the wire (the black line here):
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh143/werdnayarg/Wire2.jpg
The mechanical properties (mass / unit length, 'stiffness', etc.) of this part of the string would be very different from the rest, so I really doubt that it would either intonate properly, or produce a true clean note. I didn't get the chance to find out as it broke shortly after fitting it - the second time it happened from that pack of 3 sets.
Caveat emptor.
I understand that this type of fault can occur in wire drawing, but that decent QC should have found and rejected these - maybe out of the back door?
I think a trusted seller is becoming very important!
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I have retro-fitted a number of guitars (including one for Steve Rothery) with BF nuts and all of the customers were pleased by the change.
If you get the nut checked and then cut properly if needed, that does not mean that your intonation now is perfect . It may not be (because of the bridge). But you may have sorted the problem which was annoying the hell out of you .
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
There's a nice touch you can do to these as well - when you've got the overall position right with the two big screws, measure the gap between the screw heads and the back of the bridge, then cut that much off the screw thread, so you can crank the heads up tight against the back of the bridge. Super neat and means it will never creep out of position.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I've worked on probably 50 or so vintage juniors and specials. The output of the original P90s can vary a lot from 'supercharged Strat' to 'roaring bastard' due to the 50s winding techniques.
However, having refitted original wrap overs to guitars fitted with Badass bridges on more than a few occasions, I can tell you *every single one* sounded better after the work. You get more airiness in the mids and the string to string definition is better.
But, as with all things, if you prefer the sound with a Badass then that's cool. There's no right or wrong, really. I guess I just prefer them as originally designed. :-)
I did have someone with better ears than mine say how "in tune" a PRS of mine sounded.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein