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July 2004
Posts: 14
Location: Canada | Hello,
After reading extensively about strings in Lisa's last posting and learning a lot, I have another question please. How long will older packaged strings last. Do they have a "suggested' expiry date. Yes, Cliff, I have some of those too. ;-)
Thanks. |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I have wondered about that, myself....I have never seen a "use by" date on a package of strings, but if they stay packaged, I would think they would be good for 2-3 years, at least. Corrosion is the enemy of strings and string packaging is usually done to prevent that. More experienced opinions?????
Roger |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | They last a long time. The problem is that they will start to corode at some point and they can get funny then. Plain strings will break easier at that spot. The wound strings will just start to sound dead sooner. I've used sets that are up to 5 years old, no problem. If they are stored in a clean, dry place they can last a long time. |
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July 2004
Posts: 15
| Hi Ocean....The D'Addario strings I bought yesterday came in a little plastic bag that bosted of a new, high tech Corrosion Intercept Technology! "The future is in your hands!" (or so the bag says!)
According to this bag, string corrosion is a big deal....the bag is made of a barrier that contains a gasneutralizing barrier in the polymer matrix.....you just can't make this stuff up!
So this novice would say try 'em, if they stink (or if they are rusted) bag 'em.
See guys.....how long am I here? A week? And I'm already a big help! |
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Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | That's another thing that I like about the D'Add's . . . |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | (smiling)....to me, "Corrosion Intercept Technology" is just a marketing-ese way of saying "our bag seals pretty darn good"!!!
The important thing is that moisture be kept from getting to the strings, as they are steel. Moisture enhances the rate at which ferrous substances oxidize (rust).
Like Neil Young wrote and sang, "rust never sleeps"......
Roger |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | When we had the string factory the paper envelopes that the strings go into were of a special type of paper that would also help keep corosion to a minimum. A sealed bag is better. |
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Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I'd bet the special type of paper had some wax content or something similar that plugged the openings in the paper fibers so it didn't "breathe". The better the seal, the better it is at keeping moisture out, the longer the strings will last.
Roger |
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January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | "a gasneutralizing barrier in the polymer matrix"
My wifes been trying to get me to eat that stuff for years! |
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September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | Anybody remember Black Diamond strings? All that I knew about way back when. A friend of mine has a pharmacy, really more of what we used to call a drugstore, fountain and all. He still has picks on a big card and a box full of Black Diamond strings. I bought some to put on a cheap guitar for a guy recently. No telling how old they were, but they still worked.
noel |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Those were our strings. Made by National Musical String in New Brunswick New Jersey. Kaman bought them around 1970 and in the 80's moved them to CT. In the mid 90's with all the corporate focus on return on fucking investment it was closed down and the product outsourced. (Probably the right move. I asked John D'Addario for a quote on making allll our strings and it was significantly less than it cost us so.........the rest is history as they say) |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Black Diamond's still around.
In fact they make a set with a black coating on 'em.
. . . gee, I have a hard ENOUGH time seeing/hitting the right string in a dimly-lit club . . . why not just make all the strings BLACK and make it a little MORE "challenging"!! :-)
Actually, I bet they'd look REALLY cool on Witko's StealthAdamas . . |
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April 2004
Posts: 265
Location: Warrenton, Virginia | cliff
yes I have seen black diamonds around...at least the name is being used.....i don't know if they were bought out or not......you can see em some times in Kmart......or off the wall music stores.
in my experience.....moisture/humidity kills strings....even time does a number on them... if I've had a set for a year or so....and put them on the guitar...I've found they seem to turn dead faster.....
packaging is key i think |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | The name black diamond was sold to a guy from texas who still uses it. Not sure where the strings are made. |
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July 2003
Posts: 1922
Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | I believe there is a bluegrass song by the name of "Black Diamond Strings". There's a version of the song by Guy Clark on the "Merlefest Live! The Best Of 2003" CD.
Roger |
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September 2003
Posts: 782
Location: Waurika OK | Checked the web, Black Diamond strings are now located in Sarasota Fl. Cavanaugh is the family name of the guy who wrote the blurb for the website. Said Black Diamond strings have been in his family for three generations. Also said they were bought by Super Sensitive Strings 2 years ago.
Looks like they have a wide selection of strings, like Cliff said, black and also other ccoatings, for guitars and also other stringed instruments.
He said Black Diamond started in 1890. Kinda of nice to see an old company continue, even if not uner the same ownership.
I will probably try some for old times sake.
noel |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| I have been buying almost every kind of string out there for Acoustics for years? I either seem to need a set in a hurry and buy what I can find? or I find I am shping to try and find that perfect company? Prices all across the board. I like the D'Ads and the Adamas's I have given up on finding strings that last longer, they all go bad in a week or two for me? Faster if I am playing out or practicing heavy. I have gone to heavier stings now (Med Med-Heavy)) these do last longer and on the Adamas 6 wow what a difference in sound! I do not want to go much heavier, even though the sound may be better, I am afraid the guitar may develope problems if I do? I guess it is just more string to corrode that is why the Mediums last longer? Randy |
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Yet another question about strings.