Recycling Guitar Strings..

[sg13]

Got a question. Why aren't their any mainstream attempts at recycling guitar strings? I've ran a search on it but no major things are happening. I mean I just think about thru out a year how many strings I go through. It would be cool if Ernie Ball or a string manufacturer collected them and gave you like 25 cents off a new pack. What do other people think of this idea? It would seem like a good way for them to make money.

 

[The Refugee]

Seems like a good idea.

Sort of surprised D'Addario hasn't already done this, they do have that eco package or whatever since they keep all the strings in the same little plastic container.

 

[H.E.L.Shane]

mine go in a big blue barrel in the garage with lots of other metal..

still in a year.. MAYBE two pounds of strings.. thats like 40 cents...

 

[PABassPlayer]

I boiled my bass strings before, it did brighten them back up a bit, but I prefer to just buy them...

 

[sg13]

Hm, interesting. Well say a touring band..possibly they could make an example of this as well? I mean they must go through at least 5 sets of strings a night if not more depending on the band. I just think it would be a great marketing idea considering the big green emphasis going on lately.

 

[GuitarToneFreak]

If in a couple of weeks a string company picks this idea up, you'll know why

 

[Ed Zeppeli]

It's a cool idea but the devil's in the details of it...

Who would have to accept the returns and would they be on board with it?

Would the strings have to be in certain containers?

If only one or two manufacturers are doing the program, how do you easily tell that it's their brand of strings being returned?

Cool idea though, as long as it didn't end up being like bottles where you actually pay more up front as a deposit for the return.

Cheers,

Warren

 

[sg13]

It's a cool idea but the devil's in the details of it...

Who would have to accept the returns and would they be on board with it?

Would the strings have to be in certain containers?

If only one or two manufacturers are doing the program, how do you easily tell that it's their brand of strings being returned?

Cool idea though, as long as it didn't end up being like bottles where you actually pay more up front as a deposit for the return.

Cheers,

Warren

I always think of the Ink Cartridge thing with staples. I mean you return your empty's and get like a 4 dollar check in the mail maybe. I figured it could be something like that. They usually give you a small bag for the returns in the box I think. The string makers could do the same I think. I would think there would definitely be a profit making way to do this.

 

[ext1jdh]

It's a cool idea but the devil's in the details of it...

Who would have to accept the returns and would they be on board with it?

GC could make a killing in green capital by doing this. Have a big cardboard container at the front door where you drop off your old strings. They send them off to the recycler or wherever.

Also it gets people into the store to browse and buy stuff. Like, hey, new strings

 

[sg13]

GC could make a killing in green capital by doing this. Have a big cardboard container at the front door where you drop off your old strings. They send them off to the recycler or wherever.

Also it gets people into the store to browse and buy stuff. Like, hey, new strings

I agree with you man! I mean probably it would be smoother for a music store to do this, rather than a manufacturer as it would cut down on the amount of transport to happen. It would definitely sell as everyone is so green happy now a days.

 

[sonar1]

Make some kind of cat toy out of them...

 

[randelli]

Save your strings........... Strangle a drummer

 

[Dan]

I boiled my bass strings before, it did brighten them back up a bit, but I prefer to just buy them...

How long does a set of bass string typically last, PA?

 

[The Refugee]

GC wouldn't put them in the front of the store. They would put them in the far back right next to an employee station, so you can hear about all the latest deals.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

GC could make a killing in green capital by doing this. Have a big cardboard container at the front door where you drop off your old strings. They send them off to the recycler or wherever.

Also it gets people into the store to browse and buy stuff. Like, hey, new strings

I agree with you man! I mean probably it would be smoother for a music store to do this, rather than a manufacturer as it would cut down on the amount of transport to happen. It would definitely sell as everyone is so green happy now a days.

Another business model would be starting a company which placed these displays in the stores, and emptied them using route driver(s). The company could then take them to a local recycling operation. There are a few locally who will take any kind of metal so long as it is smeltable. I'm sure pure-steel wound would be. Not so sure about bronze- or nickel-wound.

But now that I think more about this, it's not going to be very profitable, if at all. Better to let the individual stores handle it.

 

[mudfinger]

I've been saving mine for the past couple years, actually, the idea being to create a piece of metal sculpture out of the used strings. I'll report back in a few more years when I have enough to make what I've got in mind.

 

[Dan]

Any effort to keep recyclables out of landfills is worthwhile, I will say that.

 

[sg13]

Any effort to keep recyclables out of landfills is worthwhile, I will say that.

I agree. Even if it didn't a massive profit, it would definitely be very good for the image of a company.

 

[dave b]

Several years ago I was sending all our old strings to a woman in another province who made jewellery, mostly with the wound strings. Pretty cool stuff. Reduce,Reuse,Recycle

 

[your idol]

How long does a set of bass string typically last, PA?

If youre James Jamerson... About 40 years or so