Rusty strings! Can you check for them?

[Aziraphale]

Hey all...

I just got my guitar back from a setup at Zen Guitarwerkz (under Maestro Guitars).

Unfortunately, the very first thing I noticed was that 3 out of the 5 Everly strings (which I had bought from the shop) were rusty!

When I pointed this out, the sales guy noncommittally remarked that this was the fault of the manufacturer and that they would not be able to replace the strings for me.

Being really stumped, and not wanting to cause a scene, when they told me to sign the form saying "I am fully satisfied with the work done" and that I "...acknowledge receipt of my product in satisfactory order", I signed it, but not before telling them that I couldn't really be satisfied with the product - I mean c'mon. Rusty strings?! Now my newly setup guitar comes back home with a chance of tetanus. Great.

So anyways, what I want to know is, is it really the fault of the manufacturer?

Or maybe I was just plain stupid and should have asked them to open the packet of strings? Can I do that...?

Arrrgh!! I could really do with some answers. I feel so foolish after this incident =.=

 

[subversion]

to prevent getting rusty strings, do purchase brands which offer theirs in sealed, element-proof packaging; d'addario, ernie ball & recently GHS (among others) are doing so:

if you pick a pack & it's part of the re-string deal, don't walk away before you inspect the strings; just request the pack to be opened & look at the individual envelopes to see if there are rust stains (bringing the strings out is unnecessary).

 

[naviros]

I've (or rather my friend) ever encountered a pack of air-sealed ernie balls, with 2 strings outta the 6 that were slightly stained / rusted. Its pretty much a hit miss thing. Though its definitely an improvement from the past.

 

[Jumpin'Jellybean]

Uh huh. I bought a couple of packs of guitar strings that were on sale from Music Theme. Aria Pro strings. It turned out that all the treble strings were rusted, and one of the bass strings. The fourth. The fifth and sixth didn't rust cause they were coated. So it depends on your luck, but personally i'd buy air tight packs such as EBMM or D'Addario strings.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Strange... my Everlys came in perfect. Guess it's really a hit-and-miss kind of thing because most of these branded strings come from the US, hence they have to travel great lengths to get here.

I particularly like D'addarios for their sealed packaging, but I also like Ernie Balls. No problems with Ernie Ball so far either.

A company I'd never turn to is GHS. Every single pack I used from them had a problem of some kind. I'm not a hard-hitting player but they also broke so easily and rusted so darn fast...

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Subversion: Didn't know GHS recently changed their packaging. They broke so easily, though. Not sure if I'm willing to try them again but perhaps the sealed packaging would make an improvement.

Aziraphale: I don't think shops allow the opening of the string packs to check for rust, certainly not brands with sealed packaging.

 

[subversion]

it's just the packaging. if they don't work for you then there are other brands to choose from. i've no problems with GHS, i pretty much hit my strings hard as well.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I just remembered that at that time, I was changing tuning between standard E and dropped D very frequently. Perhaps that caused my thick E string to break. The GHS acoustic strings didn't sound that good, but I'll admit the electric strings do sound really nice. Was using the usual GHS Boomers then. I don't change tunings anymore so perhaps I ought to give GHS another try... the tone was really likable.

 

[subversion]

for those of us who do not like excessively bright strings, GHS has this pleasant broken-in tone when fresh.

 

[fretless6]

Who did you buy the strings from? Zen?

 

[Aziraphale]

Who did you buy the strings from? Zen?

Yep! Got it from Zen.

Thanks for all the advice guys, I really appreciate it

Good news is, I wrote in to Maestro and they in turn wrote in to Everly - and now they're replacing my strings!
I guess sometimes it's worth it to kick up a small fuss every now and then.

Still I'll be more careful the next time. Thanks for helping out this newbie. Haha

 

[fretless6]

Good thing that they're making it good. Big shame on the dude at Zen who just pinned the blame on the manufacturer. You don't sell ppl rusty strings. Its like buying rotten food from the supermarket and not being able to get a refund.

The thought of him even putting them onto your guitar in the first place, just says dodgy dodgy dodgy.

 

[Aziraphale]

I know right =.= who in their right mind would do a setup with rusty strings!!!!!!!

Anyway, it's all good now. But no more Everlys for me. No way in hell!

 

[dmdark]

Dun go to that shop again.

 

[kernelspy]

Dun go to that shop again.

I never go there. Don't like the attitude of the luthier... reminds me of the guy in Guitar Connection.

 

[Aziraphale]

I never go there. Don't like the attitude of the luthier... reminds me of the guy in Guitar Connection.

Yep, the manage is a douchebag.

Otherwise, the chinese dude who works in the shop is pretty nice.

Still. Not going back. Worst experience with Maestro evah.

 

[subversion]

I guess sometimes it's worth it to kick up a small fuss every now and then.

hope 'fuss' it's not what would move us all to act. when someone sells you a faulty/ compromised commodity, it's a breach of contract. you have the right for redress.

 

[AzNjT]

You need to clarify the Situation, Were the strings only purchased from them and placed onto ur guitar Then sent for a set up?

or

do you mean that you sent it for a set up, and they had the strings changed for you while u were away, and upon collection, it was suppsoed to be Set up with a New set of strings??

if its the latter then its total bs, just get them to change it. if its the first of the 2 situations then just Change It, its just strings....