Everly · Guitar Strings
D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings
Lower concern. Traditional steel strings have no known PFAS risk profile.
D'Addario acoustic guitar strings are made from conventional steel windings on a steel core, materials with no established PFAS contamination pathway. No PFAS-related coatings or treatments are standard in guitar string manufacture.
Shop Everly on Amazon →Material
Steel wound on steel core with wrap
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
D'Addario Everly acoustic strings use a steel core wrapped with steel outer windings, a conventional construction for this product category. Steel does not leach toxic metals under normal playing conditions, and the wrapped design is inert once manufactured. Unlike coated cookware or plastics exposed to heat or food contact, guitar strings experience only mechanical stress and occasional moisture from player sweat and humidity, neither of which triggers chemical release from steel alloys.
The brand's record and disclosure
D'Addario is a major, established musical instrument string manufacturer with a long market presence, but does not publish detailed material safety or chemical disclosure statements specific to Everly-line strings. No recalls or documented safety controversies are on record for this product line. The brand's silence on PFAS and chemical composition is typical for the musical instrument category, which faces less regulatory transparency pressure than food contact or apparel.
How it compares in its category
Steel-core acoustic strings are the industry standard and carry virtually identical hazard profiles across reputable manufacturers. Some competing brands (e.g., Ernie Ball, Martin) also publish minimal chemical data but have comparable safety records. Nylon-core alternatives exist but are less common for standard acoustic tuning and pose no meaningful additional or reduced chemical risk compared to steel.
If you buy it
Store strings in a cool, dry environment to prevent premature rust, though this does not affect chemical safety. Wash hands after playing if you have sensitive skin, as accumulated sweat and metal particles can cause minor irritation but not chemical toxicity. Replace strings every 1 to 3 months depending on play frequency; worn strings break suddenly but do not degrade into harmful substances. No special handling, heating, or maintenance precautions are needed beyond standard instrument care.
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.”
Metal corrosion and rust surface formation
Steel strings can develop surface rust in humid or salty environments, creating rough textures that may irritate fingers or nick skin, but rust itself is not a systemic toxicant. This is a mechanical rather than chemical hazard.
Trace heavy metals in steel alloy composition
Modern steel strings are manufactured to music industry standards that do not require testing for lead, cadmium, or nickel leaching. No published analysis of Everly strings for heavy metal content is available, and the application (non-food contact, no heat exposure) makes leaching unlikely even if present.
Coating or plating contaminants (if bronze-wrapped variants used)
D'Addario Everly acoustic strings are typically plain steel-on-steel; bronze-wrapped variants would carry slightly higher risk of copper or phosphorus residue, but no such variant is documented for this line and wound-string coating safety is well-established.
Packaging materials (ink, adhesives)
String packaging is minimal and does not contact the product during use. No specific hazard associated with D'Addario packaging is on record.
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.