[HeyMikey]

Originally Posted by fazool

Having an engineering background and doing some metallurgy work, I cannot really find any plausible explanation for this claim either.

And anecdotally, my experience shows me the exact opposite, anyway.

Stretching from playing, vibration, oxidation, skin oils and other contaminants?

I think the "sound" that strings produce is constantly changing - quite significantly within the first few days, then gradually less over a month or two until further change becomes not so perceptible. Without trying to determine the science behind why they do I just accept what I am hearing.

It then becomes a matter of personal preference as to what sound you like - fresh out of the hermetically sealed mayonnaise jar bright sound of new strings with a lot of overtones, some that that have mellowed a touch, or those that are a bit older and very much less lively.