Do Never Used Packaged Strings Stay New?

[jgbass]

I have a never used set of Obligatos sitting around in their packaging. They have been unused for about two years since I bought them, never opened or taken out of their packaging.

Are there any problems with new strings sitting around for years and not being used?

[bonaventura]

So do i and was wondering the same thing. Common sense tells me twenty, not two, might result in decay of something, somehow... But does 5 years make a big difference?

[AndreasH]

I have an Original Flexocor A-string NOS. Probably bought somewhere between the 60's and 80's...

[pasta4lnch]

I recently restrung a 12 string guitar w/ strings that my dog had gotten too. the corner of all the string sleeves were all chewed through exposing a portion of string, and had been sitting on the floor for quite some time.

everything seems to be fine. I imagine as long as moisture is kept low you'll be fine . . .

[drurb]

Unless stored in conditions that would subject the strings to corrosion, etc., my experience has been that unused strings in original packaging are good-as-new for decades!

[Bobby King]

Gut strings can present problems when they become dried out. If the core of a wound gut string becomes dry, it shrinks and the windings can come loose. Still, I've had some NOS gut strings that were 20 years old and still worked fine. It probably depends on the humidity level where they were stored. Windings also can become tarnished, but you can use metal cleaners.

Steel strings should present no problems if there's no corrosion. I don't have much experience with older synthetic core strings, but I really can't imagine that there'd be any problem with 2 year old Obligatos.

[jgbass]

Thanks for the info. I have been wondering this for a long time and glad I asked.