Old Guitar strings

I’ve just restrung my guitar cos the old ones felt nasty and were going a bit green as well as sounding dull. (Steel core, bronze windings)

So what are you all doing with your old guitars strings? They should still be fairly strong and useful.

It makes great picture hanging wire, I have also heard that some more expensive strings can be boiled and reused if you so choose.

I save em all for if supply chain breaks down and I don't have any cats around to restring.  This might be the winter I actually get around to building cigar box guitars too, so they can go on there as well.  

Just curious, what kind of strings you recommend for your style.  My go to is Ernie ball earthwood mediums.  Always thinking about trying heavies but never get around to filing the nut

Cj Picker wrote:Just curious, what kind of strings you recommend for your style.  My go to is Ernie ball earthwood mediums.  Always thinking about trying heavies but never get around to filing the nut

I've had good luck with Ernie Ball Earthwood (phosphor bronze) strings also. Well priced and they stay playable a long time. I love the sound of Martin strings even more, but they don't last as long and they cost more.

My old strings mostly go into the metal recycling bin.

Two uses I have found:

- Being thin and stiff, they are great for clearing a plugged orifice in various equipment (engines, propane fittings, etc.).

- Because they are a precise gauge, I can use them as tough shims if I need to adjust a tool like pruning shears or loppers. The blades wear under heavy use/abuse and sometimes don't match up well even when sharpened. A shim in the right place gives them a new lease on life.

I’ve tried boiling the strings and they do feel better. I’ll put one back on and see how it sounds.

I’m trying some Martins Silk ones, the feel nice and are much brighter. But this is a short scale folding guitar, so it’ll sound different to most.

I've been using old used guitar strings to make sculptures over many years. Sculptures and minimalist jewelry.
I only use ones used - used, broken, whatever.

I weave as figures, as minimalist jewelry, then I inevitably give them away.

When I have enough strings to make another piece I'll post a photo.

It's very difficult (as anyone who's worked with a string would know, to wind and weave,) but in my opinion it's beautiful and full of music.

If anyone wants to donate used, broken, strings that were - let me know.

Peace,
Jo

Weaving (art) and wire sculpture

Espalier tree and vine training. It’s necessary when no longer needed or if broken though, to be sure to clip wire off and not let fall (similarly to plastic), if metal in surrounding soils is to be avoided.

Outdoor fastenings, such as for flags and markers in my garden and silvopasture

Repairing and making smaller fence holes and improving hedgerow barriers temporarily or permanently.

LOVE the idea of picture hanging, as someone stated above!

In that vein, hanging plant wire, chandelier or lamp wire, finer earthquake book securing instead of wood dowels

@CJ Picker  I too often play the Earthwood Rock and Blues, phosphor bronze set on my acoustic.  As a mostly electric player, I can't abide by a wound G string. (I'm too bendy of a player and my hand strength isn't what it was 40+ years ago.)  On my electrics, I am a huge fan of the D'Addario NYXL series of strings.  Once stretched they hold tuning very well. XL110's if the local store is out of stock.  String Joy has design your own sets and true nickle strings that I bought for a stratocaster and haven't put on yet.  Hope you all can find more intriguing methods of using our recyclables, but since I no longer gig 6 nights a week I no longer restring at minimum, every 7 days..

The plain, unwound, ones make excellent cheese cutters.  Fix one end to a smooth board and add a handle at the other, or handles on both ends - can make two, for a spare or a friend.

you can only use so many for cleaning carburetor jets, hanging pictures and decorative items. and binding fibers to a stick to make your own brushes. or even making survival snares. what else am I leaving out. a lot of us put on fresh strings before every gig. there is no sense playing with dull dead strings and have chance of one of them popping while trying to entertain others.
but there is nothing like putting a new set of strings on a good guitar to get great sound out of it. Just my $.02, your mileage may vary