PraxAx String Assembly Instructions

Our string assemblies are pretty rugged.  But sometimes there are defects in materials or manufacturing, or a player is unusually hard on them and a string breaks.  Usually you can just call or email and we'll send a free replacement.  We'll set a price on replacement strings if it becomes a regular thing.  So far it hasn't been a problem because the strings don't easily break.  Here's how to make your own replacement string.  Make sure you save the brass nut with the hole drilled in the wall.  

Safety Instructions
- Wear adequate eye protection. If a fragment of wire shoots off the wire cutter into your eye, or some other part of your body, you will be sorry. Get help.
- When using the wire cutter, position it so that the wire cutter is between you and the fragment you are cutting off. That way, it will shoot off away from you. Aim it into a wastebasket lined with something soft like paper towels, so that when the fragment hits, it won t bounce out.
- Retrieve and safely dispose of all wire fragments, as you or someone else can get hurt by stray pieces lying around. The wire used for musical strings can be very sharp.
- All tools, objects, instruments, materials, substances, methods, activities, words, ideas, animals, plants, and people can be dangerous and harmful when used or encountered inappropriately, or in unusual circumstances, or by ignorant, innocent, fragile, senile, demented, psychotic, neurotic, pathetic, inebriated, irresponsible, incapacitated, irrational, emotional, infirm, disabled, fatigued, confused, stupid, or unlucky people. Please be careful, act responsibly, be safe, have fun, and avoid greedy manipulative lawyers. Vote for tort reform to make the loser pay for costs in failed lawsuits, limit excessive jury awards, and limit excessive legal fees.

Tools & Materials:
Needle nose pliers
wire cutter
2 inch long small diameter (3/32) nail
vise grip (optional) 
soft pencil or felt tip marker
Accurate ruler (1/16 inch divisions or finer)
Appropriate guitar or bass strings (used or new) 
8-32 Hex nut with hole drilled in wall (comes with PraxAx or PraxAx kit)

(Skip this step if string is plain core wire, i.e. no winding)
Strip winding wire off both ends of wound string (Low E, A,D on guitar and all bass strings)
Use the pliers to grip the outer winding wire at the end. Unwind or pull it off as far back as the mark. Do both ends. You may want to use the vise grip to grip the string. If you do, protect it by padding it with thin cardboard so the teeth of the vise grip don t damage the wire. Repeat for each layer of winding wire (some strings may have as many as 4) till you get down to bare core wire. Trim & crimp to get rid of sharp ends as much as possible. See safety instructions.

Test length. The assembly should be straight, without kinks or bends. Place the hex nut over the matching hole at the nut end of the body/base. The far end of the bridge end core wire loop should be even with the far end of the hole at the bridge end of the body/base. If too long you may not be able to get enough tension because the nut will bottom out when you tighten the machine screw. If too short, you may not be able to attach or it may be too tight.

Hints:
- See safety instructions about flying wire fragments. Be careful to position the cutter so that it is between you and the fragment. Wear eye protection at all times. Don t poke yourself and don t leave wire around for other people to tangle with
- Make more loops if thin core wire
- Avoid bends or nicks or kinks in the core wire except where needed. Work slowly and carefully so you get it right on the first try, because if you unbend then rebend, it weakens the core wire metal. This makes it likely to break when you put tension on it .