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Post subject: rusty super bullets
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2015 9:40 am
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Hi - anyone else suffering from this? I stopped buying Fender Super Bullet strings a few years ago, even though they were my favourites (both my main guitars are Strats, a 2004 '54 50th commemorative and a de luxe Shawbucker) because I kept finding corrosion on the plain strings in brand new packs, even to the point where the paper envelopes were rustmarked.
When the new all-singing, all-dancing plastic-packed-in-a-special-anti-corrosion-environment strings arrived - I bought some.
Big mistake! All they've done is sealed in the corrosion, not kept it out; it appears to occur in spots where the plain strings cross the wound ones where they're coiled in the two-packs.
My own guess is sweaty fingers on the packing line? Surely Fender should know about sweaty fingers by now(!)
And no, they weren't bought from the Acme back-door string emporium, they were supplied by one of the biggest European suppliers, Thomann, whom I hope will refund my money.
I can't believe that a company like Fender produce and promote these strings, and then send them out faulty . . . . anyone else suffering from this? And if so, what can I do about it - other than grumbling a lot and never darkening Fender's door again?


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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 1:12 pm
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I can't say I've had that problem with the Super Bullets. I've moved on to Slinkys mostly but I am curious if you ever found out what was causing the issue?

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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 11:30 pm
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BadBluesGuitarist wrote:
I can't say I've had that problem with the Super Bullets. I've moved on to Slinkys mostly but I am curious if you ever found out what was causing the issue?


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hello BBG

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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:29 am
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Hi BBG,
No progress so far - Thomann are replacing three out of the four packs I bought (the problem is confined to the plain strings, and I fit these last, so the others were already cut and on the guitar, i.e. for them, "used" therefore not refundable). They didn't want the faulty strings back, so are obviously not going to discuss the problem with their supplier, i.e. Fender. When the replacements arrive, I'll be looking more carefully!
After more inspection, I am convinced that the corrosion occurs on the inner cores of the wound strings; this then transfers to the plain strings at the points of contact in the coils, when they are coiled together in the packaging.
I like the bullets for their tone (some of my stuff is Shadows), and the perfect tuning retention that the 100% contact with the vibrato gives. And I've never had a string jam after breaking on stage - a nightmare when the eye of a conventional string sticks in the socket . . . . . .
Even when I was buying the cheapest strings I could find (Cathedral) fifty years ago (!) they were never rusty . . . shame, Fender!
To be continued when I unwrap the relacements.
Cheers,
Weedsy


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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 5:43 pm
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I don't recall ever having rusty strings with either bass or guitar, but I've had the high E and B turn black on a guitar because I didn't change them in over 5 years (I'm better about that sort of thing, now :P .) I've never tried the Super Bullet strings, though.

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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2015 11:43 pm
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PaulLF wrote:
I don't recall ever having rusty strings with either bass or guitar, but I've had the high E and B turn black on a guitar because I didn't change them in over 5 years (I'm better about that sort of thing, now :P .)

I use EB Cobalts, and love them, except that the wound strings do turn my fingers grey. I've probably gone through 30 or so sets so far, and they're all like that from day 1. But that's ok; I'm not allergic to washing my hands and wiping the strings with a cloth.


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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 3:17 pm
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Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
I always wash my hands, but I've never wiped the strings down after playing, though. I guess I just don't think about it because my hands are clean, but I suppose there is still natural oils or whatever going on.

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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 12:22 am
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I've never had a rusty Fender string, ever. I use Fender strings pretty much exclusively on my electrics. That said, I don't use the Supers though. I prefer the sound and feel of the 150s over the 250s. I don't know if that would be a factor.

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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 6:37 am
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Go/send back to retailer for replacements.

I've had that happen with other strings, they will replace 'em.

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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 2:24 pm
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Whatever you do, don't try to use rusty strings, even if they're not horribly bad. The potential for harming yourself just isn't worth it.


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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 4:17 am
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I started using Elixirs late last year and won't use anything else.


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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2015 10:31 am
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Speaking of Fender strings ... what do we know about the move from the old plastic envelope packaging with the individual white paper envelopes ... to the paper box packaging with the hermetically sealed plastic bag inside?

Has a new company begun making the strings for Fender?
Is that company D'Addario?

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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2015 2:32 am
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No further developments yet re my replacement strings, but in reply to various posts; I've done some research, and yes, jeffo, Elixir are at the top of my list if this problem persists.
And good question about the origin of Fender strings; they're still marked as partially made in Germany, I think (can't check, 'cos I sent 'em all back!) Can anyone ask Fender? And will they get an answer??
More news when the next sets of rusty strings arrive. Or not . . .


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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 4:12 am
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Three packs of replacement strings arrived yesterday - the pack I opened is fine, absolutely no signs of corrosion - I didn't want to open any others, as they might go rusty once opened!
So, no explanation - except that these packs were "crisp" and newer looking than the others; difficult to describe, but card/paper gets softer with age - these packs were absolutely brand new, so maybe it was a problem of old stock . . . but I thought the "protective atmosphere" thing was to prevent exactly that. Ho hum.


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Post subject: Re: rusty super bullets
Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2015 12:40 am
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Thanks for the update weedsy.

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