Unused old strings still good?

[360guy]

I have the opportunity to buy a large lot of old unused strings. They were in a shop and then left to the next of kin. I don't know much else about the strings. Would a string become worthless just by age? I assume these are steel.

[Marcus Johnson]

Yes, they're useless. Please give me the address of the owner so I can inform him in person.





Of course I'm kidding. Unused strings should be fine, and in some cases, you may find some real desirable rare or discontinued strings that way. If you go ahead with the deal, please let us know what you have... maybe some of us can help you identify any "mystery strings".

[Jake deVilliers]

I can hear the good Doc salivating from all the way across the continent!

[Kirk Bryant]

Over the years I have known several people who worked at Dean Markley strings or had String endorsements. Well long story short I was given probably a hundred sets of strings in the last 20 yrs and I used to only use 2 or 3 a year at most. Now its been seven years since I moved north from SF and have been given any free strings and I am finally coming to the end of my supply. I'm sure many of these sets are 10 or more years old but when I put them on they sound new to my ears. Of course I am not a fan of overly bright strings so if they have lost anything in that department I'm not sure I would even be aware of it.
If you would like to send me a few sets to compare I would appreciate it!

peace Capt Kirk

[fenderfunker]

Naaah! They'll all be rubbish. I have some room left in my garbage bin, if you need it?

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by fenderfunker

Naaah! They'll all be rubbish. I have some room left in my garbage bin, if you need it?

ff, you might have a hard time getting that extra 10-12 inches of string onto your tuning machines.

[John Wentzien]

Originally Posted by Kirk Bryant

Over the years I have known several people who worked at Dean Markley strings or had String endorsements. Well long story short I was given probably a hundred sets of strings in the last 20 yrs and I used to only use 2 or 3 a year at most. Now its been seven years since I moved north from SF and have been given any free strings and I am finally coming to the end of my supply. I'm sure many of these sets are 10 or more years old but when I put them on they sound new to my ears. Of course I am not a fan of overly bright strings so if they have lost anything in that department I'm not sure I would even be aware of it.
If you would like to send me a few sets to compare I would appreciate it!

peace Capt Kirk

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Kirk Bryant

Over the years I have known several people who worked at Dean Markley strings or had String endorsements. Well long story short I was given probably a hundred sets of strings in the last 20 yrs and I used to only use 2 or 3 a year at most.

That's weird... I have a set of Dean Markley BG strings that some guy gave me onstage years ago. I was playing double bass. I guess he just assumed I played slab too (I do, in theory, but I can't remember the last time I gigged on one) Do they have a policy of giving away strings to anyone and everyone? If so... I wish they would start making DB strings!

Anyway, they're still in the package, and that was at least ten years ago. Sort of like my Fender!

[fenderfunker]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

ff, you might have a hard time getting that extra 10-12 inches of string onto your tuning machines.

As my bass is only 7" long, I get 5 sets of strings from a new set. What are you implying???

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by fenderfunker

As my bass is only 7" long, I get 5 sets of strings from a new set. What are you implying???

Ah, an Ashbory player!