Instrument strings - durability ?

Subject: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 01:51 PM

This is more a philosophical query - is there a shelf life for strings - ie, banjo, guitar, mandolin, etc. ?

I wondered about this last night when I hauled in a new batch of strings I had ordered and forgot in the back seat of my car for a day. They were pretty hot and I wondered if the heat had taken anything out of them.

Also, a number of years ago I inherited my wife's grandmother's old potato bug mandolin and with it a mint tin full of strings from around 1910. I was never very sure about their quality - but at that time I was a rank beginner.

So I'm wondering. Do strings age just sitting around, and can extreme heat or cold storage factors affect them, or do they keep their "zing" until used ??

Subject: RE: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 07:51 PM

The metal can degrade, rust, tarnish, get fouled... but as long as you keep them clean, dry and not exposed to too much heat, they should last in the packaging for a while. I've put on strings bought as much as a year and a half earlier (but kept in their unopened packaging and in good conditions) and they were fine.

Subject: RE: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: Mooh
Date: 05 Aug 04 - 07:05 AM

I pulled a set of Elixirs from a student's case a couple of months ago and they were rusted and tarnished in the package! The coating had seperated from the strings and left a trail of shreds on the way to the trash. Never seen such a thing before. The story was that they were bought for a trip to the Orient (I think it was), but were never strung up. The humidity and/or salt air they suffered must have been axtreme. Less than a year in the case.

Once in a while I see a little tarnished area on newish strings but generally don't have any problems. I buy them and use them within about 6 months, and keep replenishing my stock so that there's always a few sets (20 maybe) on hand. God knows how long they hang in the store or how long it is between manufacture and use.

I know a guy who keeps his in his freezer, but I don't understand the science behind that.

Btw, tried the Wyres recently and much liked them, though I can't get them locally...usually use D'Addarios.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: GUEST,Les B.
Date: 05 Aug 04 - 10:27 PM

Mooh - Yeah I bet salt air would really rust a set good, even those plastic goretex Elixirs! Luckily I'm a thousand miles or so inland.

Haven't heard of Wyres. I'm getting ready to try some strings a friend recommended - S.I.T. strings - he raves about them for banjo, so I'm trying both banjo and guitar (soon).

Subject: RE: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: Cluin
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 03:23 PM

Wyres... each string packaged in individual plastic bags, non? Tried `em once. They were good average strings. Still prefer John Pearse, D'Addarios or Martin SPs (I find the Martin SPs last longest for me, though).

Subject: RE: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: Mark Clark
Date: 10 Aug 04 - 03:57 PM

I too find that the Martin SPs last a long time. I've been using those lately but just ordered a couple of sets of bulk strings from JustStrings.com to see what they're like. With shipping, they're just under $4.00 USD per set if you by a dozen at a time. I think I'm paying around $5.00 or $6.00 per set for Martin SPs at my local music shop so JustStrings may not be any cheaper if I have to change them more frequently.

Thirty years ago, when I was performing several times a week, I was buying bulk strings from James Boyce of North Falmouth, MA. They were $19.00 a dozen sets back when I started using them so they were a great deal as well as a good string. Today, if I could find a decent string for, say, $36.00/dozen sets, FOB my mailbox, I'd certainly consider the switch.

I'll report back on JustStrings brand strings when I've used them for a few weeks.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: mooman
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 05:56 AM

I have a problem with durability of strings having somewhat acid sweat.

I've been using Elixirs, which I like, for several years but they are too expensive for me, despite the fact they last longer. I have, therefore, changed to using Newtone strings on all my instruments. These are individually made made Malcolm Newton in the UK and he supplies the custom gauges I need. I just got an order of 12 sets in the other day. Malcolm uses good quality alloys and winds his strings on round, rather than hexagonal, cores which also improves their corrosion resistance as there are no "pockets" for moisture to build up in. I find his strings last very well and sound excellent.

His site is here

Newtone Strings

for anyone who's interested. He does take credit cards and will do mail order. I believe 12th Fret in Toronto are a stockist.

Peace,

moo

Subject: RE: Instrument strings - durability ?
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Aug 04 - 06:49 AM

A new guitar arrived last Friday, the first day of our local festival, and got passed around like a small town whore, so much that I will change the strings this morning. My hands are relatively easy on strings but somebody's weren't. I suppose the reason why several manufacturers are shipping guitars with coated strings these days is to prevent them from getting prematurely shopworn. I had provided a regular phosphor-bronze light set for the builder to string up with.

Btw, I've noticed an improvement in string life since my diet radically changed a couple of months ago. It seems cholesterol is bad for guitar strings too.

Peace, Mooh.