Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings vs D'Addario Guitar Strings: which is safer?
Martin Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Martin
Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings
PFAS grade
A 95/100
Overall grade
A 91/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
Phosphor bronze, stainless steel, nylon wound
Confidence
82%
PossibleTrace heavy metals in bronze alloy
Phosphor Bronze
D'Addario Guitar Strings
PFAS grade
B 85/100
Overall grade
B 81/100
Verdict
Buy
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
Phosphor bronze wire (copper-tin alloy base)
Confidence
82%
PossibleCorrosion byproducts
Both products run through the same public rubric: 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 →
More guitar strings: see the full ranking