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Topic: Wound string shelf life? |
Doug Jones
From:
Oregon & Florida
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Posted 12 Dec 2005 10:09 pm |
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| How long should one keep strings in ye olde junk drawer? I prefer the sound of Nickel wounds and have always wondered how long they're good for. Assuming you keep them in a dry spot what do you think the life is? Bring them comments on................ |
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Per Berner
From:
Skovde, Sweden
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 12:24 am
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I bought a huge batch of GHS Boomers (for 6-string guitar) some 8 or 9 years ago. Now I'm down to just two sets left. The last ones I put on my Telecaster were as twangy as ever. I've kept all the sets unopened (but not sealed in any way) in a desk drawer. Could be different in a more humid climate, I guess.
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ยด75 Emmons p/p D10 8+4, '96 Emmons Legrande II D10 8+5, ca '72 AWH Custom D10 8+3, Peavey Nashville 1000
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 6:23 am
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I have heard what I consider "old wives tales" about the shelf life of strings. In my opinion, the only thing that would affect them is surface corrosion. If they are kept in a dry environment, I think they would always be good.
The only way I know to change the "temper" of metal is by subjecting it to very high temperatures. Then the temper can be changed by the cooling process.
You won't encounter those temperatures on a shelf.
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www.phelpscountychoppers.com/steelguitar
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 7:19 am
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About 6 or 7 years ago I bought 25 complete sets of C6 and E9 strings at a music store bankruptcy sale for $5.00 per set. I still have some of them in my packseat where they've been all this time. I can't tell any difference in tone or longivity between them and the recently purchased strings that I've bought.
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www.genejones.com
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 8:52 am
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| I have some odd sizes that are at least 25 years old. Whenever I think of a use for them and put them on an instrument they seem fine. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 9:31 am
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I still have a bunch of nickel 'ZB' strings from the 1970s. I got these from Eric Snowball in Maidstone, Kent, so they've crossed the Atlantic twice!
It'd be interesting to see if they're still OK, but the gauges are wrong for my Emmons...
RR |
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Dave Grafe
From:
Hudson River Valley NY
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 6:44 pm
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| If no corrosion occurs they should last indefinitely - it is the microscopic cracks that form under tension that kill them, until they are stretched out on the guitar they remain basically unchanged in the package - you can leave them for your great-grandkids to use if you like, they'll no doubt be better quality than new ones in 2056 anyway.... |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 7:42 pm
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I have some strings from 30 years ago, when I need to change , I put em on and everything just A ok.....Merry Christmas...al 
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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