View Full Version : Nickel Allergy SUCKS!!! Guitar Strings Question.
Redhouse-Blues
08-31-2009, 09:52 AM
I have a nickel allergy and the only metal that I can safely leave on my skin is gold. Well lately, it has kicked in more then ever and my fingers on my fretting hand are broken out and it almost kepted me from playing this weekend, new skin rocks!! I'm thinking about trying coated strings, I'm just wondering if anyone else has this problem. I'm a huge DR Strings fan and have been using them for years. So, I'm looking at their coated strings. I also heard Nano webs are cool.
Will coated strings help?
How are they?
Any tone loss?
DaBlizzardofOz
08-31-2009, 10:06 AM
Tone loss? I wouldn't call it that. Coated strings do tend to sound different than regular ones, usually brighter. I tried em and switched back because I didn't like the feel or tone, but some people love it. They definitely hold their tone longer (assuming you like that tone). If they don't bother your skin you should try them. You just have to get used to the feel & adjust your rig for the tone change.
goodhonk
08-31-2009, 10:11 AM
play with gloves on.
Jet Bycraft
08-31-2009, 10:27 AM
I have a nickel allergy and the only metal that I can safely leave on my skin is gold. Well lately, it has kicked in more then ever and my fingers on my fretting hand are broken out and it almost kepted me from playing this weekend, new skin rocks!! I'm thinking about trying coated strings, I'm just wondering if anyone else has this problem. I'm a huge DR Strings fan and have been using them for years. So, I'm looking at their coated strings. I also heard Nano webs are cool.
Will coated strings help?
How are they?
Any tone loss?
Check these out...http://www.juststrings.com/opt-eg2028rl.html
Redhouse-Blues
08-31-2009, 10:56 AM
I can't play with gloves on, that would suck!!! :D
The gold strings would work, but at $38 a set holy cow!!!!
I'm going to order some coated, this allergy has been a pain in my ass for all my life and it seems as I get older it get's worse. It sucks having your fretting hand and fingers broken out in little blisters and rash from time to time.
JCM 800
08-31-2009, 11:02 AM
There were some gold strings out about 10 years ago that I completely loved! Can't remember the name right now, but they have been out of business for a long time.
Don A
08-31-2009, 11:31 AM
How about stainless steel strings? Are nickel frets a problem as well?
MaxBoogie
08-31-2009, 11:45 AM
How about stainless steel strings? Are nickel frets a problem as well?
Stainless still generally has nickel in it....
The coated strings (like Elixer) are only coated on the bottom 3 strings...
I like the gold plated idea!
Redhouse-Blues
08-31-2009, 12:14 PM
After doing a google search, there's page after page of people talking about this, it's pretty common with players. GHS makes a nickel free SS strings as do Ernie Ball. It's either coated of nickel free Stainless Steel. Which ones will sound the closest to nickel?
There's a ton of people who quite playing because of this. I'm not that guy!!!!
Grenville
08-31-2009, 12:40 PM
$38 a set holy cow!!!!
Be thankful you're not a classical musician!
Dave Yeats
08-31-2009, 12:56 PM
After doing a google search, there's page after page of people talking about this, it's pretty common with players. GHS makes a nickel free SS strings as do Ernie Ball. It's either coated of nickel free Stainless Steel. Which ones will sound the closest to nickel?
There's a ton of people who quite playing because of this. I'm not that guy!!!!
Only the wound strings are coated on those coated sets. Try the nickel-free SS.
Redhouse-Blues
08-31-2009, 03:21 PM
Only the wound strings are coated on those coated sets. Try the nickel-free SS.
According to Dr's website there's a coating on the plain and wire wrapped strings.
Squigglefunk
08-31-2009, 03:31 PM
http://images.allegrocentral.com/F0/C9/Finger-Cots-White-Latex-173238-PRODUCT-MEDIUM_IMAGE.jpg
please practice safe music
Redhouse-Blues
08-31-2009, 07:21 PM
http://images.allegrocentral.com/F0/C9/Finger-Cots-White-Latex-173238-PRODUCT-MEDIUM_IMAGE.jpg
please practice safe music
LOL :D
Glenn Baren
08-31-2009, 08:10 PM
Weren't the gold strings by pyramid?
Franktone
08-31-2009, 09:18 PM
If I play nickel wound strings for more than half an hour I get a migraine headache for a couple of days. I started using SS strings about 10 years ago and certainly they don't sound as good by quite a bit. In addition nickel is a well known carcinogen. It was hard for me to figure out because the headache doesn't show for a couple of hours.
flampton
09-01-2009, 12:40 AM
Yeah if you can find nickel free strings that will be the best bet. A coating will not do anything as your contact dermatitis is based on your T cells interacting with the nickel resulting in a type IV hypersensitivity reaction, its not a true allergy but its something you do not want to provoke. Continuous provocation will lead to more inflammation and lessen the ability and comfort to perform.
Nickel free, nickel free.
JCM 800
09-01-2009, 07:47 AM
Weren't the gold strings by pyramid?
No, the ones I was using were not Pyramid.
powermatt99
09-01-2009, 09:48 AM
play with gloves on.
I've played with a bassist who does this. He plays funk and it tears up his skin otherwise.
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