I was out of strings recently and had a old pack of Fenders from when I bought a guitar. The three non-wound strings were rusted. They've been sitting in a dry closet since 2006 or so. Very dissappointing. I have not had other brands of unopened strings rust before simply from sitting around. The other brands of strings I use are Ernie Ball, GHS and D'addario.

Even though your strings were in a dry closet,there is always a certain amount of humidity in a house and after 5 or 6 years it's no surprise that some of the strings rusted.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

hi , i've seen it on new packs just out of the shop , it's one of the reasons i use elixer strings , never had this issue with them , cheers
Alan

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Ive never had the problem with the Ernie Ball sealed packs, but then again they've never been that old either....

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08 Fender Highway One Tele-Sunburst
09 Squier Custom Tele II-Blonde
04 Squier Standard Strat Antiqueburst
07 Washburn D10SCE natural with Rosewood backing
Fender Mustang II amp


Experience is the best teacher

Lots of manufacturers have gone to sealed plastic packs that are vacuum sealed. I would doubt that they would rust. I have maybe 10 packs of slinkys in my drawer that are at least a year old. Never had any rust on any of them.

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2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)