Ah Don, I knew I loved you like a brother and once again you have given additional support to that feeling. Don't go in much for the Zen aspects do you? The Howard Cosell of Mudcat (apologies in advance, but I say that with the best of Howard in mind).....Tell it like it is!If I can't sleep later, I'll type up a long post regarding the boring details of density, retention, grain structure and patterns, etc. and a hell of a lot of real boring shit about wood. I WILL add this now because it bothers me every time I hear it........a Truss Rod isn't there as a steel reinforcement, but it is the most misused adjustable device on a guitar.
Change your strings however it winds your machine head, but the pin wrap needs at least a full wrap around before underlooping and should, when tuned, have at least 4-5 on trebles and 3-4 on basses to assure limited breakage problems. Just change them.
Spaw