Black Spots on new strings

[GeorgeII]

Hi,
i notiiced
increased opening a new pack of strings (DR tight fit f.e.)
Some black spiots on the strings.. Is this rust ? I don't storaged
the strings very long...
Will this take influence on sound?
Have anyone the equal experiances?

Cheers,
Gerd

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Gerd,
They have probably been subject to moisture, probably before you purchased them. I think you should not bother to use them. Can you complain to the supplier?
Regards,
Charlie

[GeorgeII]

Hi Charlie,
Thank's for quick reply..
Ok, I'll get in touch with Thomann, my supplier, seems the strings
are not very fresh...
Do You think the sound wiil be inflluenced?

Cheers,
Gerd

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Gerd,
I think so, they could be similar to dirty or old strings.
Regards,
Charlie

[sixchannel]

I've had that on nickel plated strings. Are yours?
If so, its probably a plating fault at the manufacturing stage.
Ian

[GeorgeII]

Yes indeed, the Strings are nickel plated, DR Strings, ..
By the way, how long could strings be storaged before using?

Cheers,
Gerd

[Charlie Hall]

I think strings can be stored a long time in airtight packaging. Otherwise, it depends on humidity levels in the air.
Regards,
Charlie

[bernie]

Hi Gerd,

have you already tried "Pyramid Strings". I use them since years and had never problems with them. It's a very good quality for a reasonable price. By the way they are made in Germany. Just a suggestion.

Regards,
Bernie

[GeorgeII]

Hi Charlie,
I think D`addario strings are packed airtight..
My DR set was not,I´ll try a set the next time.

Hi Bernie,
The Pyramid factory is only a few miles away from me
in Bubenreuth, purchased some sets direct from factory,
the quality is really good bud they are also not packed airtight..

Cheers,
Gerd

[somebodyelseuk]

Black spots... nickel oxide - the nickel equivalent of rust. Most likely the platers didn't rinse them properly after plating. Storage conditions would have to be really bad for it to happen in storage - you'd be more likely to see rust from the steel underneath.
This was the reason I went to D'Addarios back in the 90s - buying a set of rusty Rotosounds (supplier's fault, not Rotosound's). It's also why I won't buy strings off the 'net - they're sent from a warehouse, not a shop.

Cheers, Julian

[GeorgeII]

Hi Julian ,
I took the strings out from a new set...
Only the plain strings G,H,E where affected..
I store my strings in my cellar room, with all my other
Equipment , and I think the indoor climate is Ok ..

Can I see the date of manufacture anywhere on the String set?

Cheers, Gerd

[somebodyelseuk]

Hi Gerd.
It's one of those things that can't be blamed on when they were made. They could have been made twenty years ago and be clean as a whistle, or made yesterday and be spotted to hell.
I used to be a metallurgist for one of the major plating suppliers, before my eyesight went bad. Nickel plating solutions are generally quite acidic, if the plating isn't rinsed off properly after plating, the solution will start to oxidise the surface of the plating. I would expect guitar strings would be plated on a reel to reel system - a reel of wire is slowly unwound through the various processes of the plating and wound onto a reel at the other end. I won't try to explain how it works, because unless you've seen it done, it doesn't sound possible, but something as simple as a momentary interruption in the rinsing spray would be enough, and because of the nature of how the whole thing is done, it's one of those things that may not show up until after the string has been made and packaged.
For the cost of a set of strings, as long as they aren't actually rusty, it's not worth the effort of sending back and causing a fuss. If you have a tin of 'Brasso', you could probably polish the spots off the strings - just pull them through a couple of times and then through a clean cloth to remove the polish, before fitting to the guitar. I wouldn't expect it to affect their sound or durability. It's one of those 'just one of those things' situations that happens sometimes, and it can happen regardless of what brand they are.
Now, red rusty strings. That's another kettle of fish. That's corrosion of the bit that's under tension which causes a weak point in the string, especially on plain ones.
At least when you buy them from a local shop you can take 'em back and play hell!
Cheers, Julian