As you can see in the pic, I've lost the bearings of the second string. Any advice on where to get replacement bearings and what size?
Its called a Fender LSR Roller Nut. Costs $29 USD. Easily swapped over on a guitar that's already been prepped for it (=has one already), just unscrew the two screws and pop the new one in. Buy a new one, imho even if you find the balls, you'll just lose them again. That thing musta had some kinda slight bend or something to make en stay put, and that's obviously cooked now. Trying to hammer it or whatnot prolly won't be the best idea
I found out that this is the size: 3/32" - 2.381mm Chrome steel bearings. I’ll try my local bearing store first.
Jeff is fond of the earlier Wilkinson roller nut that was the original equipment on his signature model. When Fender stopped buying them from Wilkinson, Fender designed their own LSR roller bridge. (Unclear whether Wilkinson decided to stop making them forcing Fender to design their own, or whether they stopped making them due to lack of demand after Fender decided to stop using them.) Jeff told them he didn't want the LSR, so the Custom Shop reserved the rest of Fender's stock of Wilkinsons for future guitars for Jeff. The LSR has been in production ever since they started making them.
I read somewhere that when the LSRs lose bearings, it's because the little rubber pad in front of the bearings has become worn or damaged. Apparently, that's what traps the bearings and keeps them in place. I'd be inclined to replace the nut and keep the old one as a source of replacement pads and bearings. If you do that, when removing the old nut be careful of the shims underneath it. There's no way to lower the string slots on the roller nuts, so the nut slot is cut a little low and then shimmed, to allow for future lowering after dressing worn frets. There may be different thicknesses on the treble/bass side (either different gauge shims, or a different number of stacked shims). If you don't get the shims mixed up it's a quick and easy swap. But if they get jumbled there will be some trial and error getting the nut height correct.
what a tricky little MF'er this could turn out to be. wonder if there is a guide somewhere to help with this.