Instrument for tricky operation (6)

I believe the answer is:

fiddle

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'instrument' is the definition.
(fiddle is a kind of instrument)

I can't explain the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for fiddle that I've seen before include "The poor man's violin" , "scrape" , "Sham" , "One's played" , "Trifle - swindle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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