Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated vs Electric Guitar Strings Nickel: which is safer?
D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
D'Addario
Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated
PFAS grade
Excellent 85/100
Overall grade
Excellent 77/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
80/20 Bronze (copper-tin alloy) with phosphor-bronze coating
Confidence
82%
PossibleCoating degradation and particulate release
PossibleAllergic contact dermatitis (copper sensitivity)
D'Addario
Electric Guitar Strings Nickel
PFAS grade
Excellent 85/100
Overall grade
Good 71/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
Nickel-plated steel core with nickel-brass wound exterior
Confidence
82%
PossibleNickel skin contact sensitivity
ReportedCoating degradation and core exposure
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Coating degradation and particulate release and Allergic contact dermatitis (copper sensitivity) on the D'Addario and not on the D'Addario.
- We flag Nickel skin contact sensitivity and Coating degradation and core exposure on the D'Addario and not on the D'Addario.
- The D'Addario is 80/20 Bronze (copper-tin alloy) with phosphor-bronze coating where the D'Addario is Nickel-plated steel core with nickel-brass wound exterior, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
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