So how long can you store unused strings?

[packhowitzer]

I used to gig 5 hrs a night, 4 nights a week in some pretty gnarly, smoky, sweaty conditions. I changed strings once per month. I bought in bulk to help defray some of the cost. That was years ago and now I change my strings maybe 3 times a year on my most used basses and 1 time a year on the lesser ones. I usually use nickel rounds.

So my question is, I've got some strings left over from the old days that have always been stored in their original packaging without exposure to any extremes. BUT they are getting on in age. One of my twelve packs of Ernie Ball Slinkys has got to be getting on towards 8 or 9 years old. Should I hurry up and use them for the sake of using them? Will they be okay to use as necessity dictates? Will their useful lifespan be shorter?

I've got maybe 25 sets of strings to get through that range from that old box at 9 years up to a few sets that are maybe 4 years young. The newer ones were usually freebies or whatever as clearly I don't need to go out and buy strings.

So whach'all think?

[Wyzird05]

This question was asked on the double bass forum about a year ago. Everyone seemed to agree that as long as the strings are not exposed to corrosive materials (finger oils, salt, etc.) they're probably good for decades.

I suppose the nickel could oxidize or tarnish and might change the characteristic of the string slightly, but I wouldn't expect strings to break.

[FunkMetalBass]

If the strings are sealed in plastic, you're probably fine. If not, I'd suggest finding a friend with a vacuum sealer and doing it, just to keep them away from moisture.

[lowendgenerator]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

If the strings are sealed in plastic, you're probably fine. If not, I'd suggest finding a friend with a vacuum sealer and doing it, just to keep them away from moisture.

I was thinking the same thing...

[scotch]

Yeah, I would be willing to gamble that a brand new, factory fresh, untouched string would keep for a lifetime if kept at room temperature and away from moisture & high humidity. The sealed plastic envelopes that many companies use only help ensure freshness!

[SLaPiNFuNK]

I have some strings from the mid 90's (not selling these on my site btw!!!) that "Look" perfect.

I have no idea what they will sound like though, but they look good

[packhowitzer]

Originally Posted by Wyzird05

This question was asked on the double bass forum about a year ago. Everyone seemed to agree that as long as the strings are not exposed to corrosive materials (finger oils, salt, etc.) they're probably good for decades.

I suppose the nickel could oxidize or tarnish and might change the characteristic of the string slightly, but I wouldn't expect strings to break.

I didn't search the DB threads. I didn't know if there was too significant a difference in the makeup of the string to know if this question was applicable across all string types. My dad has flat wounds on his 59 strat and only ever changes the high E and B as they get brittle. The current set of strings is literally 20 years old. I'm 33 and I remember when he changed them last. The guitar sounds fine and the strings are bright and shiny.

I didn't know if nickel rounds were as hardy. They certainly seem to wear out faster under use as crud collects in the grooves.

Do the winds get brittle or lose their sonic luster over the years of being 'on the shelf' so to speak?

[packhowitzer]

Originally Posted by scotch

Yeah, I would be willing to gamble that a brand new, factory fresh, untouched string would keep for a lifetime if kept at room temperature and away from moisture & high humidity. The sealed plastic envelopes that many companies use only help ensure freshness!

Most of my older strings are in non-sealed paper envelopes inside non-sealed vinyl plastic packages. A few of the sets that I have that were comp'd to me are in vacuum-style bags: newer sets of Ernie Balls for example). Since reading some replies I have put the strings in Gallon size ziplocs, but they are by no means cryo-sealed for freshness. As I said before, they've just spent their time with me in various closets and drawers in my house. No crazy temperature or humidity extremes.

[pacojas]

don't strings have a greasy/oily coating from processing? (that should help preserve them)

[scotch]

Originally Posted by packhowitzer

Most of my older strings are in non-sealed paper envelopes inside non-sealed vinyl plastic packages. A few of the sets that I have that were comp'd to me are in vacuum-style bags: newer sets of Ernie Balls for example). Since reading some replies I have put the strings in Gallon size ziplocs, but they are by no means cryo-sealed for freshness. As I said before, they've just spent their time with me in various closets and drawers in my house. No crazy temperature or humidity extremes.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to put in a little desiccant pack!

As a matter of fact, I think I'll put one in the drawer with my string supply... Anybody know where to buy them? Micheal's maybe?

[groooooove]

if kept dry... i cant imagine strings "expiring.."

[Thaos627]

there is moisture naturally in the air so i recommend them in a sealed plastic. i would imagine them only becoming dead after awhile but as long as they arent rusty or unraveled they should still be playable.

if u dont wanna risk it sell them on here. there are a lot of people who like dead strings.

[okofoto]

Got a used CARVIN xb76pf. Don't like round wounds, so I put on Labella Nylon wound I got from a friend who had them, unused, for years. The E string is WAY louder than the rest, on piezzo (not on mag PU), playing with the trimpots did not help. The thread tells me that the culprit are not the strings. Must be the electronics or the piezzo PU, but what puzzles me is that all was well with the roundwounds. Any ideas? THANKS

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by okofoto

Got a used CARVIN xb76pf. Don't like round wounds, so I put on Labella Nylon wound I got from a friend who had them, unused, for years. The E string is WAY louder than the rest, on piezzo (not on mag PU), playing with the trimpots did not help. The thread tells me that the culprit are not the strings. Must be the electronics or the piezzo PU, but what puzzles me is that all was well with the roundwounds. Any ideas? THANKS

The fact that the magnetic pickup gives you the same string volume is an indicator that something is wrong with the piezo pickups and not the strings. I suspect the other strings are not making good contact with the piezo element(s). A good tech should be able to tell you more and fix the problem with minimal effort.

Also, for things like this, it's more beneficial to start your own thread (in the pickups subforum, since you reasonably believe the pickup to be the issue) instead of piggy-backing on an older thread that is only somewhat related.

[Showdown]

I just found a five year old pack of well used TI Flats I had intended to save for something. I just put them on a bass and they still sound fantastic. I know the question was about unused strings, but it seems to me if used strings can last that long then new ones should do even better.

[packhowitzer]

Originally Posted by Showdown

I just found a five year old pack of well used TI Flats I had intended to save for something. I just put them on a bass and they still sound fantastic. I know the question was about unused strings, but it seems to me if used strings can last that long then new ones should do even better.

I think that your experience is certainly valid to this thread. Thanks for the input. I'm actually about to put a set of old Slinky's on my highway 1 pbass. i'll try to choose what I believe to be the oldest set I have. Then I'll post my opinions of the results. Unfortunately I don't have the ability to record myself, but I'll try to be as descriptive as I can. Thanks again everybody, and please keep posting your opinions and experiences with long-term storage strings!

[Sifl]

Get a supporting membership and sell some of them in the classifieds section!

[Eight_Stringer]

Dunno, have unopened packets here from late 1970's. Dont know how they sound as i have never opened them, why they are 30+ years old new old stock ( i bought new ), unopened. Though i did have a few RS66LD strings from the same era on hand, put them on a bass here, sounded fine, maybe a little less bright, yet brand new loose that brightness after a few weeks in anycase. No difinitive answer on this i suspect, matter of try and judge for yourself.

As an aside, modern strings are for thr most part all very good. The reason Rotosounds sounded so good in the 70's had a lot to do with the very ordinary strings from many manufactures of the time, sounding well...ordinary under hand and fingers. HTH

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by Eight_Stringer

Dunno, have unopened packets here from late 1970's. Dont know how they sound as i have never opened them, why they are 30+ years old new old stock ( i bought new ), unopened. Though i did have a few RS66LD strings from the same era on hand, put them on a bass here, sounded fine, maybe a little less bright, yet brand new loose that brightness after a few weeks in anycase. No difinitive answer on this i suspect, matter of try and judge for yourself.

As an aside, modern strings are for thr most part all very good. The reason Rotosounds sounded so good in the 70's had a lot to do with the very ordinary strings from many manufactures of the time, sounding well...ordinary under hand and fingers. HTH

May be there will be a market for them like NOS tubes

[jmattbassplaya]

I had a set of GHS Bass Boomers sitting around my house that I received when I bought a used bass in the classifieds. I through those bad boys on the other day after having them sit unused for about 4 years and...

...they didn't work. They wouldn't hold a tune, they didn't sound new, and they didn't even look new. I don't know if moisture somehow got in the pack (I doubt it) or what, but they didn't sound good at all.