Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated vs 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings: which is safer?
D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated is the clear pick. Elixir 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
D'Addario
Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleCoating degradation and particulate release
PossibleAllergic contact dermatitis (copper sensitivity)
Elixir
80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleUndisclosed polymer coating composition
ReportedNickel in wrap alloy
PossiblePolymer coating degradation
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 Elixir.
- We flag Undisclosed polymer coating composition, Nickel in wrap alloy and Polymer coating degradation on the Elixir and not on the D'Addario.
- The D'Addario is 80/20 Bronze (copper-tin alloy) with phosphor-bronze coating where the Elixir is Steel wound with bronze or nickel-silver wrap; proprietary polymer coating, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the D'Addario is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Elixir grade, at 45% confidence against 82%, because it discloses less.
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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