just a final note, if your wondering how the ball end could have got into the pickup cavity, then this guitar had open pickups (no surrounds) and the ...

well well well well, blinking found the problem. ha ha ha who would have thought it. after initially wiring the guitar up, when i restrung the guitar...

thanks for the 2 above posts, ill try the suggestions today, ill let u know how i get on...cheers j