Guitar Strings, ranked by PFAS safety
15 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. 7 grade Good or better and are worth buying.
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The best non-toxic guitar strings, ranked safest first
Bad · Better · Best guitar strings
The quickest read, what to skip and the top-graded picks worth buying instead.
Elixir
Elixir 80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings
Elixir's coating formula is undisclosed; possible PFAS use, but no public evidence confirms it.
D'Addario
D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings Nickel
Lower PFAS concern; traditional guitar strings use established metallic coatings, not Teflon-family coating.
Worth buying Good or Excellent, safest first
D'Addario
Electric Guitar Strings Nickel
Nickel-plated steel core with nickel-brass wound exterior
Nickel skin contact sensitivity
Limited concern
Coating degradation and core exposure
Moderate concern
Lower PFAS concern; traditional guitar strings use established metallic coatings, not Teflon-family coating.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
D'Addario
Acoustic Bronze Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze wound over steel hex core
Manufacturing residue or contaminants (oils, lubricants, solder flux)
Limited concern
Nickel exposure from steel core (for nickel-sensitive individuals)
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; standard string material composition poses minimal exposure risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
D'Addario
Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated
80/20 Bronze (copper-tin alloy) with phosphor-bronze coating
Coating degradation and particulate release
Limited concern
Allergic contact dermatitis (copper sensitivity)
Limited concern
Lower concern; acoustic guitar strings composed of well-established metals with no known PFAS use.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Ernie Ball
Everlast Acoustic Guitar Strings
Steel wound on steel core, nylon/polymer windings
Degradation or microparticle shedding of coating
Limited concern
Nickel sensitivity from metal contact
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; standard acoustic strings with no known fluorochemical treatments.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
nickel-plated steel wound core with bronze/phosphor bronze wrap
Nickel skin contact and sensitization
Limited concern
Low concern; metal guitar strings show no known fluorochemical treatment.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Ernie Ball
Super Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
Steel core with nickel-plated wound strings
Nickel skin contact / allergy
Limited concern
Low concern; traditional metal guitar strings carry no known PFAS risk profile.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Ernie Ball
Beefy Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
Nickel-plated steel wound around hexagonal steel core
Nickel contact dermatitis
Limited concern
Hexagonal core fracture and sharp edges
Limited concern
Low concern; traditional guitar string materials show no fluorochemical treatment association.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Elixir
Phosphor Acoustic Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze wound steel strings with proprietary Elixir coating
Proprietary polymer coating composition unknown
Limited concern
Coating degradation and particulate ingestion
Limited concern
Avoid until brand discloses coating chemistry; Elixir's proprietary finish lacks transparency.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
GHS
Coated Boomers Electric Guitar Strings
Hexagonal wire core with unspecified coating
Coating composition opacity
Limited concern
Avoid or ask GHS for coating details; guitar strings are low-concern, but opacity warrants caution.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
GHS
CBGBL Coated Boomers Electric Guitar Strings
Steel/nickel-plated core; coating composition unspecified
Nickel contact dermatitis
Limited concern
Coating degradation and leachate exposure
Limited concern
Microabrasion and inhalation of coating particles
Limited concern
Avoid or contact GHS for coating transparency; PFAS risk unknown for this product.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Ernie Ball
Coated Electric Slinky Guitar Strings
Nickel-plated steel core with proprietary polymer coating
Teflon-type coating / Teflon-family coating in proprietary coating
Limited concern
Nickel skin contact sensitization
Limited concern
Coating degradation and particle shedding
Limited concern
Avoid unless Ernie Ball discloses coating composition; coated strings are a PFAS uncertainty.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Ernie Ball
Everlast Light Coated 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
80/20 bronze wound strings with proprietary light coating
Steel core oxidation and rust
Limited concern
Undisclosed chemical additives
Limited concern
Low concern; standard bronze acoustic strings lack known Teflon-family coating coatings, though coating specifics remain undisclosed.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Ernie Ball
3123 Coated Super Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
Nickel-plated steel core with proprietary polymer coating
Nickel contact dermatitis
Limited concern
PFAS
Limited concern
Unclear coating chemistry; PFAS risk cannot be confirmed for guitar strings.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Elixir
Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar Strings
Polymer-coated steel strings with proprietary nanoweb coating
Polymer coating composition (unknown)
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from degraded coating
Limited concern
Avoid until coating composition is disclosed; Elixir's proprietary nanoweb raises PFAS questions.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Elixir
80/20 Acoustic Guitar Strings
Steel wound with bronze or nickel-silver wrap; proprietary polymer coating
Undisclosed polymer coating composition
Limited concern
Nickel in wrap alloy
Moderate concern
Polymer coating degradation
Limited concern
Elixir's coating formula is undisclosed; possible PFAS use, but no public evidence confirms it.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
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