OK, news: I tested various nipple screws and IT DID NOT WORK!
Either the nipple screws were aesthetically pleasing and small - but could not hold the tension. Or they were big and ugly - and did not fit.
So, cutting strings at the ball end makes no sense. I destroyed some perfectly great strings for nothing (except learning something :-))
But I had two interesting findings:
- I like flatwounds. Never had them before, but they sounded magical (as long as my “solution” kept the tuning). Also I liked the feeling on my fingers…
- I (ab)used my Ken Onion Edition Knife and Tool Sharpener to grind the strings to a smaller diameter, so they would fit the nipple screws. I found out that this is a very simple and clean way to remove the outer threads very gently. I wish I had known that before as I could have used the grinding method to remove threads at the headstock side, in order to make strings thinner.
It’s kind of depressing that I had to destroy the Dunlop Flatwounds as I really got to love them.
I hope that nobody needs to make my mistakes after having read this!