Dunlop · Guitar Strings
Dunlop Björn Gelotte Artist-Selected Custom Guitar Strings
Lower PFAS concern; steel guitar strings lack typical PFAS-prone coatings.
Guitar strings are metal-based products (steel, nickel-plated wire) with no documented reason to contain PFAS. Dunlop has made no PFAS claims either way. No public lab data or recalls exist for this product category.
Shop Dunlop on Amazon →Material
Steel/nickel-plated steel strings; wound wire cores
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Dunlop Björn Gelotte strings are steel-core wire wound with nickel-plated steel wrapping, a conventional formulation for electric and acoustic guitars. Nickel plating provides corrosion resistance and tonal stability; steel cores offer durability under tension. This material class does not typically involve the coatings, flame retardants, or synthetic polymers that introduce common chemical contaminants into other consumer products.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dunlop (a Jim Dunlop company subsidiary) maintains no publicized material safety disclosures or third-party certifications specific to guitar strings. No recalls, safety complaints, or chemical hazard statements have been established in public records for this product line. The brand's silence on PFAS and other chemical practices is typical for the musical instrument string category, where regulatory scrutiny is minimal.
How it compares in its category
Guitar strings across brands (Ernie Ball, D'Addario, GHS, Fender) follow similar steel and nickel-plated construction with no material differentiation in safety profiles. Artist signature strings like this Björn Gelotte variant typically differ only in gauge, winding density, or alloy composition for tone, not chemical safety. This product sits squarely in the low-hazard middle of the category.
If you buy it
Replace strings when they show visible rust, discoloration, or tonal dullness (typically 1-3 months depending on play frequency and sweat exposure). Store in a dry environment to slow nickel oxidation. Wash hands after playing extended sessions if you have nickel sensitivity, as skin contact with plated strings can trigger dermatitis in susceptible individuals. No special disposal precautions are required; strings are recyclable steel scrap.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Nickel contact dermatitis
Nickel-plated strings can leach trace nickel ions during prolonged skin contact, especially with perspiration. Individuals with documented nickel sensitivity may experience localized irritation on fingertips and palms; this is a known issue in the string-playing community but not a product defect.
Zinc or cadmium in alloy cores (legacy concern)
Modern Dunlop strings use steel-nickel formulations without reported cadmium or excessive zinc. No test data or recalls document heavy metal leaching from this product line into skin or saliva during normal playing.
Rust or oxidation byproducts
Nickel plating prevents interior steel oxidation under normal storage and use. Degraded or corroded strings do not release toxic rust dust into air or ingested through contact; they simply lose tone and require replacement.
Inhalation hazard from string dust or fibers
Guitar strings do not shed fibers, microplastics, or particulate matter during playing or storage. No respiratory risk is documented or plausible for this material class.
Coating degradation or delamination
The nickel plating is integral to the steel substrate and does not flake or peel under normal playing conditions. No recalls or complaints exist for coating failure exposing raw steel to skin.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 82% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Guitar Strings
Martin
Retro Acoustic Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze, stainless steel, nylon wound
Lower concern, acoustic guitar strings typically use established metals and nylon without water-repellent coating or nonstick coatings.
✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Acoustic360
Ernie Ball Everlast Acoustic Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze/stainless steel wound on steel core
Lower PFAS concern, acoustic guitar strings use standard metal materials with no known fluorochemical treatments.
✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
Dean Markley
Electric Guitar Strings
Steel alloy strings (nickel-plated or stainless steel core)
Lower PFAS concern, steel strings lack typical PFAS applications, but no brand disclosure exists.
✓Bare metal or glass, no coating at all
More guitar strings grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.