Unused Guitar String Life

[song-writer]

These days, guitar strings by some manufacturers are in a sealed package, which I believe will keep them just as good as new until the package is opened. This begs the question on how long UNUSED guitar strings last. Don't know if you are like me, but I have some unused strings that have been laying around for years. Some may be individual strings and others from sets with gauges that I am no longer using, since I now like to use 9's on electrics, for the most part ? although I may have to go to flatwound 11's for a vintage Jaguar (that has sat for years, and I now want to bring back to service) to eliminate buzzing (saddles or frets, or who knows what ? with its complicated floating bridge). And also, if you have a few guitars like me, and you possibly strung one up with new strings and never used it for a few years, could the strings have gone bad just from atmospheric conditions (even if in a case) despite never being played other than for the initial tuning? By the way, I am also using Martin Folk Guitar Silk & Steel Standard Gauge M130 set for my acoustic that start at .0115 for high E. So in short, my questions are as follows:

1.Can unused/uninstalled strings deteriorate over time, and how badly.
2.Can unused, but installed strings deteriorate over time (despite the fact that the guitar has always been in a case), and how badly.

[kslight]

The answer to this question will vary case by case, depending on gauges of strings, how and the climate of where the guitar is stored, the manufacturer and style of strings...

I'd just pick up the guitar with suspect strings, tune it, play...if it has trouble staying in tune and/or they sound dull or are rusted then you may want to change them.. Guitar strings would certainly be more suspect than bass strings. But bass strings and flats I usually don't change often at all, even when they are frequently played..because a duller tone usually won't matter and heavy strings are more durable.

[teleharmonium]

those Silk and Steel sets are nice sounding, but not very long lasting in my experience.

Basically the more air the strings are exposed to the more they are going to age while being stored. If they're in the usual paper envelopes, that is a lot better than being on a guitar, but not as good as being in a sealed plastic pack.

The plain strings seem to suffer the effects a lot sooner than the others. Plain strings also are the cheapest and the most similar from one brand to the next. So when in doubt, I install the wound strings from an old set and use new plain strings.

Flatwounds seem to bear storage better than rounds. Which makes sense considering that they last much longer on the instrument as well.

[casey campbell]

i wonder if storing guitar strings in a ziplock with silica would work? or even rice?

[;ivlunsdystf]

hey, i bet the flatwounds have less surface area per unit string length! that would mean less exposure to the air! awesome

[nick_a]

hahaha i really like the rice idea

[casey campbell]

hahaha i really like the rice idea

it'd probably be cheaper and easier to come by than silica...ill have to actually try it out.

[;ivlunsdystf]

imma order up some pro-grade silica canisters and leave them around my place and offer them to people who visit. "hey, you wanna dessicate your phone a bit while you're here?"

http://www.adorama.com/ZZSGC.html?utm_t ... urce=gbase

what a way to "ADD VALUE" to the :ivlunsdystf experience, eh?

[Judas Jetski]

I find the best way to store guitar strings is to immerse them in salt water brine, then keep them in a damp basement. I put them right next to my analog tape.


Seriously, though, I may have to look into those silica gel packs. Those would go a long way towards string or tape storage. I've been using the disposable gel packs that come in bottles of Mucinex. Lately I've been sucking that stuff down like it's something fun to do, so I doubt if I'll ever run out... but their build quality is a little sketchy.

[casey campbell]

I find the best way to store guitar strings is to immerse them in salt water brine, then keep them in a damp basement. I put them right next to my analog tape.


Seriously, though, I may have to look into those silica gel packs. Those would go a long way towards string or tape storage. I've been using the disposable gel packs that come in bottles of Mucinex. Lately I've been sucking that stuff down like it's something fun to do, so I doubt if I'll ever run out... but their build quality is a little sketchy.

ha ha...that's so funny. me too! my mucous factory is working over time!

[song-writer]

Hey Everyone,

I thank you for all of your replies. The information provided was helpful. I put this same query out on gearslutz.com and tascamforums.com. One reply I found interesting and worth passing on concerned lighter fluid to clean strings and preserve life. It is as follows:

A while back, I read a blip in Premier Guitar that regular lighter fluid (Ronson's liquid) does a great job of restoring strings. The article came from Dean Farley, the founder of Snake Oil Brand strings (an ex-employee of Dean Markley). I have never tried it myself, but I do know Dean has a true passion for strings. Obviously, I'd keep the fluid away from your guitar's neck surface if possible. I doubt your top brand string companies would recommend it because it would put a damper in their sales. Lighter fluid is very cheap !

[BrontoSoreAss]

[rice] it'd probably be cheaper and easier to come by than silica...ill have to actually try it out.

Whenever I need silica gel packs I just go to the outlet mall near my house and ask one of the shoe stores there if I can take a bunch. I might get a weird look or two but they are usually pretty obliging. Once I even had most of the sales staff going through boxes with me grabbing up all the packs. It's a free/easy way to get them as long as your friendly and polite.

[Judas Jetski]

Oh, that's an AWESOME idea. Plus your tapes, strings, and Mucinex will always smell shoebox-fresh!