Hypoallergenic electric guitar and bass strings?

Post date: 2019-11-09 07:45:11

I have a nickel allergy. I also have a cobalt allergy. I might have a chromium allergy as well (am currently looking at getting tested for that). Do electric guitar strings without any of these metals even exist? And if they do, do they exist in heavy gauges (12+ on the high E ideally)? What about bass strings?

I am aware that the frets on my instruments are probably somewhere in the region of one-fifth nickel. It's not something I can currently afford to do much about - hypoallergenic fretwire isn't that expensive, but the refretting work is, and is absolutely not something I'd be comfortable attempting myself (I have looked into this).

Similarly, I am aware that polymer-coated strings exist. However, my experience is that these are actually worse than useless - the coating wears off, and I get even worse reactions than to straight up nickel strings (maybe the coating is making micro-abrasions in the skin when it flakes off?) so they're basically out.

I've found all manner of stainless steel or cobalt wound strings that claim to be nickel free, but I'm suspecting a chromium allergy as the ones I've tried still set my hands off pretty badly (even from just holding the strings in my hand straight from the packet, so I know it's not just the frets).

Am I basically going to have to throw in the towel on playing, or does someone make strings from like, pure carbon steel or something?

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