Do Unopened Strings Have a Shelf Life?

[jalevinemd]

Guess the title is pretty self-explanatory. I joined the Guitar Center String Club a long time ago. Before I joined my band, I didn't change strings often because I would rotate from one guitar to the next. Now that I'm only playing one guitar, I change strings roughly every 6 weeks. In the meantime, I have amassed quite a little collection of strings...some are at least three years old. As long as they are in the packages, unopened, are they as fresh as if I bought them yesterday? Do ones in the sealed packages (like the Ernie Ball Slinkys) last longer than ones in the cardboard boxes and paper sleeves (like the DR Pure Blues)?

[pauldo]

Interesting question - many variables. Assuming that oxidization (rust) would be the biggest factor in determining if the shelf life was jeopardized.  One would think the structural (flex) of string should remain constant as long as it doesn't rust.

In an ideal situation the individual strings sealed properly with an inert (nitrogen type) gas should last forever.  No oxygen contact, controlled humidity level when packaged and no oxidization should occur.

If a string was packaged and sealed with moisture inside then degradation could occur.

Paper sleeves/ cardboard could be bad OR could act as a moisture wick and slow/ reduce oxidization from occurring.  Some papers used for wrapping metal (not sure if they are used for strings) are treated with an anti-oxidization substance.  It slows the oxidization process and would be a great thing for strings.

Then there is the consideration if any of the strings were dipped/sprayed with an anti-oxidization treatment (oil/ grease/ etc). 

Again I would ass-u-me that string manufacturers probably have some type of 'slow the rust down' contingency plan as they make the string, package it, it sits around waiting for shipment, it gets shipped, sits around waiting for final delivery, gets delivered and sits in inventory for who knows how long awaiting for someone to purchase it . . . .

So with that in mind ultimately it would depend on different manufacturer's and their SOP (and execution of SOP during their process).  So you could/ should/ would (?) see a variable rate of shelf-life from package to package.


I guess I really don't know...

Paul (who hasn't had much sleep the last few nights and finds himself over-thinking things)

(and sometimes sounds like he could be a politician by saying an awful lot of things but not really making a point)

[StephenR]

I have had old packs of "new" strings tarnish. To the best of my recollection they were packed in cardboard with paper sleeves. Can't remember how old they were but definitely more than three years.

[gtrguy]

I bought a bass a while back from an pro player who carefully wiped his strings down with lectric shave after every gig. He said it preserved the strings and they lasted longer! However, to this day every time I open the case it kinda smells like I just shaved.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I have seen it happen, but for decades I've stayed with D'Adarrio; theirs come in a sealed, corrosion-proof pack (well, I guess they probably call it corrosion-resistant for the dern lawyers, but I've had them last years good as new.)

Peter

[bigredbass]

Guitar players kill me:  If I paid that little for strings (buy five string bass sets every week !), I could die happy.

An old trick I guy I used to play with:  He had these big glass jars (think candy store size) that had rubber gaskets in the lid, like a Mason home-canning jar.  He'd keep strings in there with a couple of those little bags of dessicant like they pack electronics or cameras with.  He swore it worked.

[jalevinemd]

Guitar players kill me:  If I paid that little for strings (buy five string bass sets every week !), I could die happy.

An old trick I guy I used to play with:  He had these big glass jars (think candy store size) that had rubber gaskets in the lid, like a Mason home-canning jar.  He'd keep strings in there with a couple of those little bags of dessicant like they pack electronics or cameras with.  He swore it worked.

I do feel sorry for you bass players when it comes to buying strings...though I imagine those suspension bridge cables you out on your instruments must last quite bit longer. :-)