<HTML>Janes, There is more to it than just cutting a piece of wire.You have to get the coils aligned on a wound string,if you use a universal.Also get the string on ,without damaging the dampers,as well as other parts.If you get a matched string from Yamaha,or Mapes,you will have to send off the old string.We were having fun with ourselves,not at you.You would not believe some requests you might receive,and you have to have a sense of humor to survive. Best, Hazen Bannister</HTML>