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[Weird but true] Some players are allergic to nickel

I call this weird-but-true because bass players who encounter this issue usually have no idea they’re allergic to nickel at all and just “tough it out” when in reality there’s no reason to do that.

Being allergic to nickel is in fact a real thing and is normally associated with jewelry, such as having to stop wearing a wedding ring due to the gold having some nickel content in it.  But it affects bass players as well because the fret hand is touching metal whenever playing.

Obviously, using nickel-wound strings wouldn’t be a good idea for those allergic to nickel, but fortunately there are other choices you can use so your fingers and hands don’t get all swollen up.

Stainless steel

An example of stainless steel is DR Hi-Beams and Low Riders. Rotosound also does stainless steel as well as Fodera and several other brands.

Coated

Elixir fits the bill here when it comes to coated strings. However, be aware that the coating will eventually wear off.

Tape

Using tapewound strings (you can see these in our D’Addario section) is usually a bit of a drastic move and sound totally different compared to stainless steel or coated, but it is an option.

Generally speaking, if you have to stop using strings with nickel content due to an allergic reaction, you will have the most choice switching over to stainless steel.

Extreme-extreme course of action: Wearing gloves

Bass player Scott Devine wears gloves whenever playing not due to an allergic reaction but rather because of a neurological condition called Focal Dystonia.

I’m showing this to prove that even if you have to go gloved, it can be done:

7 thoughts on “[Weird but true] Some players are allergic to nickel”

  1. Unless you have been there..hiding your bleeding fingers when returning to control room, or suoer-glueing the open fingertip wounds just before a gig…you cannot imagine!!! John Giblin

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  2. I have a severe nickel allergy. It has taken a lot of work and research to figure this one out.
    .STAINLESS IS UP TO 18% NICKEL. I use EVO GOLD fret wire and powder coat everything on my bass.
    My allergy is so severe I was gluing my finger tips together to get me through gigs. Even got used to playing with surgical tape on my fingers. My feet finally split and I went to the doctor. La Bella tape wound strings saved my career as a musician. Coated strings did not help. I tried everything!!!

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    • I have a nickel allergy too and I am blown away at the ubiquity of nickel in the stringed instrument world. I took up Ukulele specifically to get away from metallic content in strings but now I find it is nearly impossible to find brass or stainless steel fretted instruments – and refretting with stainless steel is prohibitively expensive even if you can find a technician or luthier with the tools and proficiency to do the job. Arrrgghhh. Any ideas on a tenor ukelele with ss frets? I have found some brass ones but brass can contain nickel as well.

      Reply
  3. Just read John’s post. Been there, done that. One night I played a gig and I had 16 little splits on one finger tip. my callous floated with splits all around it. painful and dangerous. I got staff infection

    Reply

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