Hi!
It should be a truism that nobody likes to change strings but we love the sound, feel and joy only a new set can bring! The real scylia and charybdis ( hey if Sting can use it in Wrapped Around Your Finger I can use it here for all of us)!

So I came up with a gadget the "String Thing" ! It is not sexy, but will really help all of you!

In another post long ago, Greg asked me to share my thoughts on string lengths, and I did but it was too cumbersome with all these measurements like 34 1/8th inch for the ....so

I built two of these and it was just easier to make 2 pdfs for all of you- for the 10 String Stick and for the 12 String Grand. Just Print them and attach them to a yardstick - the 10 String at the 34 inch mark and the 12 String right at the end of the yardstick itself. Find your number of your string, run it the length and cut. That simple. Makes changing strings a breeze and consistent every time.

Allright on this one, I will drop a name- Emmett liked it so much at Interlochen, where I was taking master classes with him, he asked if I'd make one for the shop. So SE has it!

of course there is a video!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4vjS77ryHo[/youtube]

and here's the pdfs-

I hope it brings you less stress in your life, and much joy when you play your new strings...
and when you have new strings you become a better player!

take care,
Dave Brosky

Thanks, Dave! Provided that I do not experience a moment of genius-grade idiocy, this is exactly the kind of tool I need to combat the inaccuracy caused by my spasticity.

Hey Faithful DIY Ones, this just in- Lowe's Hardware has yardsticks for 98 cents! (USD)
so if you print the pdf on recycled paper, one sheet has to be under or close to 2 cents,
so this whole project comes to ..... 1 dollar!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_22079-75709-30060_0__?productId=3354882

Under microecomonics theory, the opportunity cost of your frustration, time, effort, trial and error is way over $1! print the pdf for your particular Stick, a piece of tape and put a fork in you - you're done!

hope it helps, I use mine everytime I change my strings. I was really under a time crunch a couple of times, and this baby came through with flying colours!
take care,
Dave Brosky
Lessons via SKYPE and Google + to get you out of your rut!

ps. extra shout out to Marty for his great video on the strings too! Lotta good compliments on people who watched, learned and used his techniques. Memo to self- get that clamp!