Thomastik-Infeld · Guitar Strings
Thomastik-Infeld GB114 George Benson Flatwound Jazz Guitar Strings
Lower PFAS concern; traditional guitar string materials lack typical Teflon-family coating applications.
Thomastik-Infeld GB114 strings use standard metal construction (nickel-plated steel core and stainless flatwound wrap) with no known PFAS-prone coatings or treatments. The brand does not disclose PFAS information, which is typical for musical instruments. No public lab data or recalls exist for this product line.
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Nickel-plated steel core with flatwound stainless steel 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.
Uncoated safe material
Bare, uncoated material (cast iron, stainless, carbon steel, or glass) with no surface treatment to contain PFAS.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The GB114 uses a nickel-plated steel core wrapped in flatwound stainless steel, a traditional guitar string construction with decades of safety history. Nickel plating is applied in thin layers and does not leach into skin or saliva under normal playing conditions; the outer stainless steel wrap provides a protective barrier. Flatwound construction reduces brightness and finger noise compared to roundwound strings, making them preferred for jazz and vintage tones. The materials themselves are inert metals with no known toxic off-gassing or degradation hazards during normal use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Thomastik-Infeld, an Austrian string manufacturer founded in 1919, maintains no publicly available detailed chemical disclosures or third-party certifications for individual products. The brand has no recorded safety recalls, complaints, or regulatory actions related to guitar strings in major consumer databases. They do not publicly address PFAS use in their manufacturing or materials, though guitar strings as a product category do not typically incorporate Teflon-family coating. The company's long operational history and reputation among professional musicians suggests quality control, but transparency on material sourcing and testing is limited.
How it compares in its category
Flatwound jazz strings from major manufacturers (D'Addario, GHS, Ernie Ball) use essentially identical nickel-plated steel construction with no meaningful safety differentiation between brands. The main variables are nickel purity, winding consistency, and core material diameter, which affect tone and durability but not consumer safety. Thomastik-Infeld strings are widely used by professional orchestral and jazz musicians, indicating consistent quality and lack of field safety issues. No competitor brand in this niche segment publishes superior hazard data or certifications.
If you buy it
Handle strings with dry hands to minimize nickel contact for people with known nickel sensitivity, though skin penetration is negligible during normal play. Strings degrade and lose tone over weeks to months depending on playing frequency and sweat exposure; replace when intonation becomes unstable or tone dulls noticeably. Store in a cool, dry place away from humidity to slow corrosion; Thomastik-Infeld strings are vacuum-sealed in individual packages, which preserves them well. Wash hands after playing if you have particularly sensitive skin, though this is a general hygiene practice rather than a safety requirement specific to these strings.
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 trigger allergic reactions in nickel-sensitive individuals through prolonged skin contact; risk is low during typical playing but cumulative exposure over hours may cause localized irritation on fingers and hands.
Coating degradation and corrosion
The nickel plating and stainless steel wrap are durable under normal playing conditions; no degradation hazards or peeling have been documented in consumer use, and corroded string particles do not pose a health risk when ingested incidentally.
Heavy metal leaching into saliva or sweat
Nickel and steel are applied in stable metallic form and do not leach into mouth fluids or perspiration at measurable levels during normal play; the sealed, wrapped construction prevents direct contact with the core.
Manufacturing residue or contamination
No public recalls, complaints, or test data suggest contamination from manufacturing processes; Thomastik-Infeld's professional reputation and long operational history indicate consistent quality control.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% 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.
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.