Strings without Nickel - allergies, tone and brands

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:45 am

Hi all,

Since my late twenties I've developed some kind of hand, and less frequently foot, dermatitis manifesting in bouts of small blisters, hardening skin and slight soreness. It's never got to to the point of full on excema, open sores and scabs but it's unpleasant nonetheless. I've been putting serious time into trying out various 'cures' through food group changes etc however nickel alergies are often a cause of contact excema so I thought I'd try strings without nickel, possibly coated strings too like Elixir... but stainless steel ones intrigue me.

Has anyone made this change for the same reason?

Also does anyone use non-nickel strings and if so how do they differ in tone and feel?

Post by **Mike** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:15 am

MAN UP

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:40 am

You try holding a grizzly bear in a choke-hold with itchy hands! It's bringing me down, man

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:01 pm

i had a guitarist friend that had an allergy toward nickel. he switched over to stainless steel and hasn't looked back. there more dollar than a normal set of nickels but he thinks they stay fresher for longer. also you could try the optima gold coated strings.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:26 pm

What about the nickel frets? Do they also cause irritation?

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:31 pm

i'd imagine they would, my friend changed is nickel bridge for a chrome one as it was affected his hand when he palm muted.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:35 pm

When we were teenagers and had no money we used to use barbed wire for strings.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:38 pm

luxury, in my day we had to sell children to the lead mine to get our strings. then you had to put with with the lead poisoning on your hands

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:32 pm

We didn't even have electric guitars in my day we just shouted "WAH-WAHHHH" at girls.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:04 pm

back in my day we had to use our own tendons.

That or wait outside Games workshop, mug children for citadel minatures and smelt our own strings from them.

Just picked up 3 packs of rotosound british steel 11's for 4.07 each plus 1.99 postage

http://www.djmmusic.com/ItemMatrix.asp? ... trixType=2

George · Post by **George** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:11 pm

rotosound British Steel feel like shit and murder your frets. I had them on my jag. Ideally you would have stainless steel frets to boot. You have now been warned.

I also think I have contact dermititis from nickel but I use fast fret and it doesn't come back. I would see a doctor to double check you are actually allergic. Chances are a hand moisturiser to keep your skin healthy will stop it flaring up. Like me.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:20 pm

Boo george - half an hour ago I needed to know that!

It was that or ernie ball or fender strings from other sites...

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:27 pm

I think it could be sweat-related Dave... Since it's sometimes on your feet I'd place my bets against the nickel in your guitar strings causing it. Your guitar strings would constitute the most contact you have with your old dried sweat, your shoes being a close second. Try cleaning your strings/fretboards/frets more frequently, especially right after you play for awhile, and change your strings more often, see if that helps. If it does you can start using a purpose-built cleaner on your strings like George suggested.

George · Post by **George** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:29 pm

Sorry Dave, I no longer get to shortscale during the day at uni. Boo-urns. However I may have had a bad set and ymmv etc etc.

louis · Post by **louis** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:39 pm

Mike wrote:MAN UP

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:37 am

bwahhahahaha

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:30 am

George wrote:murder your frets.

exactly.

Use steel wound strings your guitar had better have steel frets