15 Year Old Strings Still in the Box good or dead?

["T"]

I've come across some Dean Markley Blue Steels and D'Addario XL's. Still sealed in the packaging. Are they still 100% or 90% or probably dead?

 

[Jazz Ad]

Most likely perfect, unless they have been exposed to excessive moisture.

 

[Boguszewivz]

I would say that it depends on the conditions in which they were kept. If you left them in a drawer or perhaps in your case I think they should be fine, maybe not 100% but definitely not dead.

 

[BillyIVbass]

I'd give them a shot instead of tossing them. If the D'addarios are in the bag, they are probably perfect. I think the Deans box are wrapped in plastic meaning they are still good too.

 

[Tim C.]

Dude, put them on the bass and TRY THEM...

 

[Dubista]

My old music teacher gave me a set of 5 year old D'addario Prims that were still new in box with the sealed plastic. They were freshhhhhhh. Give it a shot.

 

[plangentmusic]

Dude, put them on the bass and TRY THEM...

OH NO! Can't do THAT! Not until this thread is at least 3 pages long.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

USE THEM!

FIND OUT.

 

[behndy]

.......... Jaco only needed 4 old strings.....

 

[John Wentzien]

Bet they are still good for METAL!!!!

 

[behndy]

i see what you did there.

 

["T"]

Gosh, put them on my bass and try them? Golly, I never thought of that! lol

Don't be knockin' Metal! You know who you are!

I'm a flats guy and these are roundwounds. I was considering putting them up for sale, cheap, here or eBay but I don't want a bummed out buyer. Can't exactly offer a refund.

Thanks, they are still sealed in plastic. The D'Addarios are a sealed pack of five.

It's only 7 sets total. No biggie.

 

[Zooberwerx]

[QUOTE="T";9974623]Gosh, put them on my bass and try them? Golly, I never thought of that! lol

I'm a flats guy and these are roundwounds. I was considering putting them up for sale, cheap, here or eBay but I don't want a bummed out buyer.[/QUOTE]

15 years old? They're vintage...double the price.

Riis

 

[meatwad]

15 years old? They're vintage...double the price.

Riis

You beat me to it!

 

["T"]

15 years old? They're vintage...double the price.

Riis

Probably older than a few TB'ers! lol

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I lived in the SF Bay Area for 30 yrs. During that time I had several friends that worked for Dean M. So they used to give me sets of strings, sometimes a dozen at a time. Since I don't change strings all that often I accumulated about 60 -80 sets.
In spite of the fact I have more than a dozen basses to "feed" I still have some sets left.
Well it's been over 10 yrs since I had a "connection" and I still have about a dozen sets left before I am all out! They'll work fine as long as they're kept in a dry place.
I have in recent yrs bought a couple of new sets for comparison and I can't tell the difference between the new ones and the NOS ones.
The real shock was when I bought new strings I nearly fell over. The last time I bought strings was in the mid 80's haha strings were about $15 a set.

rock on with your NOS strings.

peace Kirk

 

[GM60466]

Joe Osborn kept the same strings on for 20 years. 15 in the box should be fine

 

[s_mcsleazy]

[QUOTE="T";9974765]Probably older than a few TB'ers! lol[/QUOTE]

only 4 years younger than me

 

[OmnitzGarima]

Dude, put them on the bass and TRY THEM...

Beautifully put.

 

[The Lurker]

It's the using of strings that wears them out through metal fatigue, gunking up, and corrosion. Absent those, why shouldn't the strings be fine?