Can pedal steel strings stay good for a year?

[Tommy Auldridge]

I have four S-10 Emmons push/pulls, and sometimes I don't play one out on a job for almost a year. Should I have to replace the strings, or can I rely on them playing in tune. They sound perfectly fine at home, but I'm not sure they will be okay with the band. What do you think? Thanks, Tommy.....

[Larry Allen]

The NYXLs in my studio Excel are on their 3rd year, dehumidified room, played 4-5 hours a week.. Ext E9 , working steel played mostly outdoor or open air gigs here in Hawaii, 6-8 a month, these I change yearly NYXLs..mostly has pick wear.. always stay in tune..

[Raybob Bowman]

I clean mine periodically with Hydrogen Peroxide. Last very long time.

[Tommy Auldridge]

The question is, if they're new,and I put the guitar away, take it out of the case a year later, will they still be okay.? Thanks, Tommy.....

[J D Sauser]

I have four S-10 Emmons push/pulls, and sometimes I don't play one out on a job for almost a year. Should I have to replace the strings, or can I rely on them playing in tune. They sound perfectly fine at home, but I'm not sure they will be okay with the band. What do you think? Thanks, Tommy.....

I think most Studio musician will tell you "No"... but then I am no studio musician or Pro.
I would say this: There are several factors which deteriorate strings: Moisture, Hands (just go into a Piano store and just only try to gently caress the strings! They will go nuts, and rightfully so!)... it's our hands' moisture which oxidizes metals, and wear from play (the bar rubbing flats into them, the picks making them thinner in the picking area) and the constant pulling from pedals and levers.
In a low moisture environment, away from the Seas... one would think that unplayed strings would stay new... and they just might. But such a perfect environment is rare. But then, most of us are not Studio Pros.

Steels are not like cars of the past, which one had to drive or tube amps one should have fired up every now and then so the rectifier caps wouldn't go lazy or just just die away on us.
Some cleaning and low viscosity oiling should get a closet guitar playing in half an hour like it did before it got put away.

... J-D.

[Bobby D. Jones]

It seems that playing a steel, Hurts strings more than just being storage. If the guitar is stored away in a Clean, Dry, Cool location.
It seems that strings that are both raised and lowered like the 4th, Are the strings that go bad first.

[Dave Grafe]

I change the high G# alone when it breaks, if anything else breaks or becomes hard to tune I change them all,

[Larry Dering]

I'm glad to read this. I have had strings on a couple steels well over a year in my basement and they play fine. If I take one out I change 3,5,6 just to be on the safe side. Of course when tuning or harmonics becomes an issue I change the set.

[Dennis Detweiler]

Lack of sustain is another determining factor.

[Bob Carlucci]

Lack of sustain is another determining factor.

I had the strings on my Marlen S10[pull release] for 7 years, and it was played several times a week.. Even the high G# was that old.. never broke it or any other string in all those 7 years.. Pretty good guitar!.. anyway, I thought the guitar still sounded good, but when I changed the strings finally, the increase in sustain was incredible.. Made me think, "yeah maybe 7 years is just a LITTLE bit too long to wait to change the strings". But yeah, thats the most noticeable factor. The guitar loses sustain with old strings.. I guess it all depends on how you are using the guitar.. If you need max sustain and clarity, change them.. If they aren't rusty and crusty, and the guitars stay in tune, aren't breaking strings, and you are good with the tone and sustain, leave them on there..... bob