Need String HELP!

[Bakes168]

My cousin has an old Bear Cub from the 60's or 70's and needs a new string because the string he has now is way to short and is really worn.
I don't know a lot about strings so I was wondering what kind of string he should buy.
I would guess it should be B-50 Dacron and 3 or 4 inches shorther than the unstrung bow right?
What kind of strings can you or can't you buy for certain bows and why or why not?
I have asked these questions a few times and in a few places but haven't gotten real good results. If anyone has ANY helpful info, or links, or books on strings it would be greatly appreciated.
I'm thirsty for knowledge!!!
Thanks for helping out a rookie, you guys that take the time to help out are great!
Bakes

[alligatordond]

In a very basic nutshell, stay with the B-50 about 3 or 4" short of the AMO length.

Fast flight has little stretch which puts considerable stress on the limb tips at the end of each shot. Newer bows can be made with reinforced tips to accomodate the fast flight. Watched a buddy once snap a limb tip on an older Black Widow with only 1 shot with a fast flight string. He was trying to win a fast arrow  contest.

Soooo, when in doubt , stick with B-50. You don't gain a great deal with the fast flight. I can't speak for any of the other materials. The manufacturer is the best one to determine if a bow can use any low stretch material.

[Grant Young]

What DonD said.                                   Grant

[Falk]

Would be good to take the bow with you when buying a new string at a shop. You would be able to measure 'brace height' then and eventually pick a better suited lenght. I assume you know the term and what it means?! Distance between deepest part of grip to string (at 90°).
Should be somewhere between 7 1/2" and 8 1/2" for most bows - with string fully stretched out though. As for Dacron B-50, you can calculat with an initial loss of 1/2" of brace height, until the string settles in. So this 1/2" should be put ontop when measuring a brand new string and aiming for a specific brace height. Endless style strings will give less then flemish style strings. Fine adjustment can be done by twisting.

Don't get a string to tow a car with. Something from 12 to 14 strands will handle most draw weights easily.