Wire the Strings
This is the easiest part. All you have to do for this step is take the wires coming out of the box that go to the strings and connect them to the strings. You can either wrap the exposed end of each wire to each string, or you can push the wires through the holes in the tuning pegs. You could also attach them to alligator clips, if you were inclined, and I’m sure there are other ways to attach the strings.
Wires both wrapped around strings and pushed into tuning pegs
Make a Pick
Next, you’ll have to make a wired pick – we’re didn’t know until PAX East that they made metal picks, but we’re looking into getting a bunch of them – if you’d like one, e-mail us, and we’d be happy to mail one out to you!
To make a metal pick with foil tape, we’ll be basically cutting a pentagon of foil and wrapping that around the tip of the pick, sandwiching a wire into it. Here it is graphically, cutting from a wide piece of tape. If you have thin pieces, you can wrap it around the pick’s tip.
With the wired pick, it’s important to make it such that the tip is metal, but there isn’t metal exposed where you’re grabbing onto it, since your body will ground it out and trigger errant strums. Use tape to cover it up more if you care to – on a metal pick, it’s necessary.
Congratulations! You’re all set to go! You should be able to plug the guitar in and rock out. If you encounter problems, please let us know by e-mailing contact@openchord.org, and we’ll try our best to help.
Thanks -
The OpenChord Team
P.S. If you want to build your own box, keep reading on. We’ll go through how to make the circuit board and modify the enclosure.
