I don't get it !!?!?? Fender 9050ML's are corroded..

[dustinymichaels]

Something I used to. These days, I likes 'em dead.

 

[Nightsprinter]

Any steel string not properly taken care of is subject to corrosion. What you're seeing is lots of sweat, snot, beer, etc. that was never cleaned off.

This is why I'll never buy used strings!

I never understood the used string thing. Even for TI's. I don't trust used basses bought sight unseen, let alone some sketchy old strings.

 

[OneNut]

Fender flats are grey steel, not stainless like La Bella, D'A Chromes, or other brands. So they will rust.

Fender advertises them as stainless:
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But as has been mentioned that could just be the wrap, not the core.

Edit to add: that is the 9050L and the 9050M. The ML could've been something different.

 

[trothwell]

Not entirely off-topic... What kind of strings are most resistant to corrosion?

 

[michael_t]

Fender advertises them as stainless:
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But as has been mentioned that could just be the wrap, not the core.

Edit to add: that is the 9050L and the 9050M. The ML could've been something different.

Not all "stainless steels" are created equal; they come in different formulas. Some are more resistant to corrosion than others.

Most core wires used in bass strings are carbon steel, not stainless, so they can corrode under certain conditions.

I don't think there is any difference in the basic formula among L, ML and M, the only difference being the gauges.

 

[OneNut]

Not all "stainless steels" are created equal; they come in different formulas. Some are more resistant to corrosion than others.

Most core wires used in bass strings are carbon steel, not stainless, so they can corrode under certain conditions.

I don't think there is any difference in the basic formula among L, ML and M, the only difference being the gauges.

As someone who has spent a lot of money buying/selling kitchen knives, I've got a pretty good handle on the difference in what is called "stainless" (as I've had knives in some of the plainest carbon steels to the most hyper exotic steels). Industry convention for stainless is a steel containing 15% chromium, which should be good enough to not rust in a product such as a guitar string. Stainless can rust, but that will generally require prolonged contact with salt water (just room humidity will not affect it).

All bets are off for carbon though. Simple carbon can rust at room level humidity, especially near coastal areas where salt gets involved.

And my comment re the ML vs the others was only based on the fact that Fender doesn't currently list the ML, and I've not been around long enough to have the experience to know what they said in the past.

 

[covermego]

Well...... maybe I'll boil 'em...... or mash 'em.... or stick 'em in a stew........

 

[OneNut]

Well...... maybe I'll boil 'em...... or mash 'em.... or stick 'em in a stew........
View attachment 5386558

Salted water to make them speak better?

 

[michael_t]

And my comment re the ML vs the others was only based on the fact that Fender doesn't currently list the ML, and I've not been around long enough to have the experience to know what they said in the past.

The two sets currently available:

9050L (light) = 45-60-80-100
9050M (medium) = 55-70-90-105

Sets previously available, but discontinued:

9050SL (super light) = 40-60-80-100
9050ML (medium-light) = 50-65-85-100
9050CL = (custom light) = 45-60-80-105

90505L (5-string, light) = 40-60-80-100-125T (taperwound)
90505M (5-string, medium) = 45-65-85-105-125T (taperwound)

 

[Swerve]

As someone who has spent a lot of money buying/selling kitchen knives, I've got a pretty good handle on the difference in what is called "stainless"

I see what you did there.

 

[Swerve]

The two sets currently available:

9050L (light) = 45-60-80-100
9050M (medium) = 55-70-90-105

Sets previously available, but discontinued:

9050SL (super light) = 40-60-80-100
9050ML (medium-light) = 50-65-85-100
9050CL = (custom light) = 45-60-80-105

90505L (5-string, light) = 40-60-80-100-125T (taperwound)
90505M (5-string, medium) = 45-65-85-105-125T (taperwound)

Dang, I recently got a ML set from Sweetwater. But Fender strings in general are getting harder to come by. All of the brick and mortar music stores in my area stopped supplying them (rounds and flats) as of this year. I keep wondering if they will get phased out completely at some point.

 

[michael_t]

The two sets currently available:

9050L (light) = 45-60-80-100
9050M (medium) = 55-70-90-105

Sets previously available, but discontinued:

9050SL (super light) = 40-60-80-100
9050ML (medium-light) = 50-65-85-100
9050CL = (custom light) = 45-60-80-105

90505L (5-string, light) = 40-60-80-100-125T (taperwound)
90505M (5-string, medium) = 45-65-85-105-125T (taperwound)

Just for clarification...

I'm talking about the post-2010 Fender 9050s after D'Addario took over their production. I personally don't know much about the previous versions made at Fender's own factory in Mexico prior to 2010.

 

[Phaidrus]

I think it's funny that the sound of these was amazing.

The 9050s do sound amazing! And as they get older more so.

 

[SharpCat]

The two sets currently available:

9050L (light) = 45-60-80-100
9050M (medium) = 55-70-90-105

Sets previously available, but discontinued:

9050SL (super light) = 40-60-80-100
9050ML (medium-light) = 50-65-85-100
9050CL = (custom light) = 45-60-80-105

90505L (5-string, light) = 40-60-80-100-125T (taperwound)
90505M (5-string, medium) = 45-65-85-105-125T (taperwound)

Fender shows 9050ML (50-100) as in stock on their web site.

 

[michael_t]

Fender shows 9050ML (50-100) as in stock on their web site.

Maybe they decided to bring them back. Not surprising... They've done that with the CL set a couple of times as well.

 

[SharpCat]

Maybe they decided to bring them back. Not surprising... They've done that with the CL set a couple of times as well.

I hope they do again. 9050L good, but would like CL I think. Would also like a 5 string option.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Any steel string not properly taken care of is subject to corrosion. What you're seeing is lots of sweat, snot, beer, etc. that was never cleaned off.

This is why I'll never buy used strings!

Yeah, I had no idea that used strings were even a consideration. I guess some will shriek when they find out that I cut up my nearly new TI Flats into 6" lengths to better fit in the garbage.

 

[iiipopes]

Fender advertises them as stainless:
Invalid Link Removed

But as has been mentioned that could just be the wrap, not the core.

Edit to add: that is the 9050L and the 9050M. The ML could've been something different.

Fender may advertise their flats as stainless, but having played them since the change, I can tell you they are not. Stainless is exactly that: it does not rust. These strings rust if not careful.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I look at strings like buying a meal for two at Mcdonald's. When I am done, I throw my bag(strings) in the trash. It's only 20+ bucks.

They are indeed a fungible aspect of playing bass. That said I’ve always kept a set of lightly used strings in my gig bag just in case, even though it’s been over 40 hears since the last time I broke a bass string.

 

[OneNut]

Fender may advertise their flats as stainless, but having played them since the change, I can tell you they are not. Stainless is exactly that: it does not rust. These strings rust if not careful.

So Fender is committing fraud in every jurisdiction they are selling the 9050 strings?

Let's see what happens - I was just pulling off a set of 9050L off a short scale I tried as a test since I had the strings. Unwrapped the E layers and put a few pieces in to cider vinegar - outer wrap, wrap1, wrap1, core and full piece. If the outer layer rusts then someone owes me some money at a minimum.

Pics below. I did pour off the vinegar after the pic.