Phosphor Bronze · Guitar Strings
Dean Markley Blackhawk Acoustic Guitar Strings
Lower PFAS concern, acoustic guitar strings are bare metal wound with no water-repellent, nonstick, or stain-resistant treatments typical of PFAS risk.
Dean Markley Blackhawk acoustic strings use phosphor bronze (a copper, tin alloy) wound over steel, with no known fluorochemical coatings or water/stain treatments. The brand makes no PFAS disclosure, but the product category, bare metal strings for sound production, has no inherent PFAS risk factors.
Shop Phosphor Bronze on Amazon →Material
Phosphor bronze wound over steel core; no reported coatings or treatments
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
Dean Markley Blackhawk strings use phosphor bronze wound around a steel core, a standard acoustic guitar string construction. Phosphor bronze is an alloy of copper, tin, and phosphorus that resists corrosion and oxidation better than plain bronze, extending string life. The steel core provides structural tension and stability. Neither material leaches into skin or ingested substances during normal playing; the strings are not heated, ingested, or worn against skin for extended periods in ways that would activate material hazards typical of cookware, textiles, or cosmetics.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dean Markley is a long-established string manufacturer with no public safety recalls, regulatory actions, or documented controversies related to string composition or coatings. The brand does not publish detailed material safety data sheets or third-party certifications for consumer strings. Industry-wide, acoustic string manufacturers rarely disclose heavy metal testing results or manufacturing process documentation to end users, reflecting the low-hazard profile of bare metal strings compared to treated products.
How it compares in its category
Phosphor bronze is the industry standard for acoustic strings and is chemically stable compared to coated or polymer-enhanced alternatives. Some manufacturers offer coated strings (e.g., with polymer or wax layers) to extend lifespan; these introduce surface chemistry that, while generally recognized as safe, adds a processing step absent in Blackhawk. Uncoated phosphor bronze strings are among the simplest formulations in the category and carry the lowest material complexity.
If you buy it
Replace strings when they lose tone, develop visible corrosion, or show signs of breakage; typical lifespan is 3-6 months with regular playing. Store in a dry environment to slow oxidation. Wash hands after playing if you have sensitive skin, as corrosion products or trace metals from the string surface could contact eyes or mouth. No special care beyond standard guitar maintenance is required; the strings are not damaged by normal room humidity or temperature variation.
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.”
Heavy metal leaching (copper, tin, phosphorus)
Phosphor bronze strings do not contact mouth, food, or drinking water during normal use. No documented cases of systemic metal exposure from acoustic string playing. Skin contact is brief and does not involve abrasion or moisture that would promote leaching.
Steel core corrosion and rust particle release
If strings are stored in high-humidity environments or left wet, the steel core can rust and shed particles. Risk is minimal during normal playing but increases with neglect. Replacement timing eliminates meaningful exposure.
Allergen or irritant contact from string surface residues
No known allergens or irritants are added to Dean Markley Blackhawk strings during manufacturing. Some players with metal sensitivities may experience minor skin irritation from prolonged contact, but this is a material property, not a manufacturing hazard.
Microplastic or polymer shedding
Blackhawk strings are bare metal wound with no polymer coatings, so no microplastics or synthetic shedding occurs. Coated alternatives may introduce this risk; these strings do not.
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.