Allergy Free Basses.

[micguy]

I have Warmoths with stainless frets. I have some Hipshot hardware that's black - not sure what the coating is, but underneath it's aluminum - that might be worth looking into - I've talked with them on the phone, and they're nice and helpful. The neck plates I use are Rock Rabbit ones - aluminum, and I use stainless screws to hold my necks on. You can get graphite or titanium saddles for bridges, and aluminum knobs (or plastic). I'm pretty sure you can get what you want, but you might have to buy things piece by piece.

 

[Element Zero]

Dude I know had all the Nickel bits powder coated black, had SS frets installed and used DR black beauties strings.

 

[jmlee]

Ferritic stainless steels contain little or no nickel. They’re also magnetic. So...if the stainless you’re dealing with is non-magnetic, it likely poses a nickel risk.

Also...passivation does not preclude migration of nickel to the oxide surface.

 

[Ellery]

I am a nickel allergy sufferer. I know this subject has been covered here before but...
With global guitar and bass sales in decline, I am surprised that guitar and bass
manufacturers do not offer EVO or stainless steel hardware as an option,
even if at a premium price.

After all the manufacturers often have a left handed option.
According European studies as much as 10 pct of the population have a
nickel allergy. The figures are skewed to show that women are the largest sufferers,
but this skew was explained as due to the fact women wear more jewelery than men
in general. 10pct is the same percentage as left handed people in the world.
So are the manufacturers prejudice in favour (British spelling) of left handed people over those with a nickel allergy. Or is it they do not want to admit a problem with nickel and therefore have to stick a health warning label on their products?

I wear a glove but I find that fine nickel particles still find their way in
and do their nasty things to my hand. As an experiment I have re-fretted some guitars and a bass to see if Evo frets actually work. (amateur job) It looked a bit shabby but worked for me. I was able to play the instrument for long periods without problem so long as I used stainless or tapewound strings as well.

The sort of bass I can afford is up to several hundred USD or GBP.
I just bought an Ibanez SRC-6 and its a very nice bass. At some point I will have to
re-fret it to EVO. If I take it to a luthier for a pro re-fret job its going to cost around
the same price as the bass. If manufacturers were do it at the point of manufacture
as an option it will be far cheaper.

So why don't the manufacturers start offering the options that might actually sell
more guitars?

Can we start an allergy sufferers corner and campaign the manufacturers?
So far I have written to Ibanez, Aria Pro and Epiphone about the issue.
So far I haven't received a reply. Does anyone else have an interest in a campaign?

Itchy and hurting - Tee.

I don't believe manufacturers are discriminating against allergy sufferers, rather it seems they've missed out on a marketing opportunity.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

I am a nickel allergy sufferer. I know this subject has been covered here before but...
With global guitar and bass sales in decline, I am surprised that guitar and bass
manufacturers do not offer EVO or stainless steel hardware as an option,
even if at a premium price.

After all the manufacturers often have a left handed option.
According European studies as much as 10 pct of the population have a
nickel allergy. The figures are skewed to show that women are the largest sufferers,
but this skew was explained as due to the fact women wear more jewelery than men
in general. 10pct is the same percentage as left handed people in the world.
So are the manufacturers prejudice in favour (British spelling) of left handed people over those with a nickel allergy. Or is it they do not want to admit a problem with nickel and therefore have to stick a health warning label on their products?

I wear a glove but I find that fine nickel particles still find their way in
and do their nasty things to my hand. As an experiment I have re-fretted some guitars and a bass to see if Evo frets actually work. (amateur job) It looked a bit shabby but worked for me. I was able to play the instrument for long periods without problem so long as I used stainless or tapewound strings as well.

The sort of bass I can afford is up to several hundred USD or GBP.
I just bought an Ibanez SRC-6 and its a very nice bass. At some point I will have to
re-fret it to EVO. If I take it to a luthier for a pro re-fret job its going to cost around
the same price as the bass. If manufacturers were do it at the point of manufacture
as an option it will be far cheaper.

So why don't the manufacturers start offering the options that might actually sell
more guitars?

Can we start an allergy sufferers corner and campaign the manufacturers?
So far I have written to Ibanez, Aria Pro and Epiphone about the issue.
So far I haven't received a reply. Does anyone else have an interest in a campaign?

Itchy and hurting - Tee.

You nickel allergy isn't as common as you may think.

Stainless has negaticpve qualities that make it less than perfect material.

Nickel "particles"?!?

 

[ashtray]

Many have a no-cost nickel free option: fretless.

(but yeah, in your case you either have to make friends with a luthier or learn how to refret instruments yourself)

 

[ashtray]

You nickel allergy isn't as common as you may think.

Stainless has negaticpve qualities that make it less than perfect material.

Nickel "particles"?!?

I think he’s referring to the “nickel shavings” that you get from using stainless steel strings on nickel frets - it wears the frets down and that nickel gets in to the string windings and just on the fretboard in general.

 

[teesquared]

I don't believe manufacturers are discriminating against allergy sufferers, rather it seems they've missed out on a marketing opportunity.

Now that is a good point. I was considering starting a little business myself when I retire refurbishing old but quality guitars and basses and making them allergen free as much as possible. If the big guys aren't interested I'll settle for 10pct of the potential total sales.

 

[teesquared]

I think he’s referring to the “nickel shavings” that you get from using stainless steel strings on nickel frets - it wears the frets down and that nickel gets in to the string windings and just on the fretboard in general.

Yes indeed every time a string is stopped at a fret a tiny piece or pieces of nickel come free. Combined with the moisture in human skin which is a catalyst it fools the human system into thinking there is a poisonous element there. Some may think that nickel is a poisonous element. The body's immune system sends out chemicals to combat the irritant. Which causes the rash and the dry skin and blisters.
Here are my hands on a good day.

 

[pellomoco14]

Looks itchey
I have a similar reaction from soaps containing sodium hydroxide "lye, caustic soda".

The Deutschland Warwicks have bronze fretwire and brass bridge and nut.

You could buy a similar nickel free fretwire to replace the frets on your favorite basses.

 

[mongo2]

Looks itchey

The Deutschland Warwicks have bronze fretwire and brass bridge and nut.

From Wiki: Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12% tin and often with the addition of other metals (such as aluminium, manganese, nickel or zinc) and sometimes non-metals or metalloids such as arsenic, phosphorus or silicon.

 

[teesquared]

From Wiki: Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12% tin and often with the addition of other metals (such as aluminium, manganese, nickel or zinc) and sometimes non-metals or metalloids such as arsenic, phosphorus or silicon.

Yes I heard that too. The only true hypoallergenic fretwire as far as I know is EVO (excluding glass and ceramics which I think are exotic fret materials requiring very special installation. EVO is the alloy that they make eyeglass frames from. I also wear glasses and have a frame made from the same alloy with no irritation.
As far as I can see the only downside with EVO is its gold colour. Not suitable for every bass or guitar.

 

[mongo2]

The Lane Poor Minima had a stepped fingerboard of graphite and super strong epoxy in lieu of frets. I always thought that was a clever idea.

 

[pellomoco14]

Because its such a common allergy the need has been accommodated.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Jeff Scott]

Yes I heard that too. The only true hypoallergenic fretwire as far as I know is EVO (excluding glass and ceramics which I think are exotic fret materials requiring very special installation. EVO is the alloy that they make eyeglass frames from. I also wear glasses and have a frame made from the same alloy with no irritation.
As far as I can see the only downside with EVO is its gold colour. Not suitable for every bass or guitar.

Okay, so there is a solution (EVO fret wire) but it's not suitable (for your bass, presumably) because it's the wrong color?

 

[teesquared]

Because its such a common allergy the need has been accommodated.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Yes . I have used that on guitars and a bass on the past. I was able to get a nice result in terms of playability but to get the edges all uniform without damaging the edge of the fretboard too much takes a lot of practice. That is why on a new bass like my SRC6 I want to ask a professional luthier to do it for me since there is no option at purchase. That is what this thread is about.

 

[teesquared]

Okay, so there is a solution (EVO fret wire) but it's not suitable (for your bass, presumably) because it's the wrong color?

No not at all Scott. Its a brand new bass. I want a professional looking result which I have yet to acheive myself. So I will employ a local luthier to do the job, eventually!

 

[teesquared]

The Lane Poor Minima had a stepped fingerboard of graphite and super strong epoxy in lieu of frets. I always thought that was a clever idea.

Yes I thought that to be an interesting idea too. There doesn't seem to be a lot of innovation these days. Only small one man shops with small budgets or the massive likes of Gibson, RIC and Fender etc.

Everyone seems to want a RIC or a Fender, or if they are rich enough a super Fender premium copy. So that's what the manufacturers make. I get it, I really do. I just like to get people to think outside the box as to what could be.

 

[teesquared]

I am a nickel allergy sufferer. I know this subject has been covered here before but...
With global guitar and bass sales in decline, I am surprised that guitar and bass
manufacturers do not offer EVO or stainless steel hardware as an option,
even if at a premium price.

After all the manufacturers often have a left handed option.
According European studies as much as 10 pct of the population have a
nickel allergy. The figures are skewed to show that women are the largest sufferers,
but this skew was explained as due to the fact women wear more jewelery than men
in general. 10pct is the same percentage as left handed people in the world.
So are the manufacturers prejudice in favour (British spelling) of left handed people over those with a nickel allergy. Or is it they do not want to admit a problem with nickel and therefore have to stick a health warning label on their products?

I wear a glove but I find that fine nickel particles still find their way in
and do their nasty things to my hand. As an experiment I have re-fretted some guitars and a bass to see if Evo frets actually work. (amateur job) It looked a bit shabby but worked for me. I was able to play the instrument for long periods without problem so long as I used stainless or tapewound strings as well.

The sort of bass I can afford is up to several hundred USD or GBP.
I just bought an Ibanez SRC-6 and its a very nice bass. At some point I will have to
re-fret it to EVO. If I take it to a luthier for a pro re-fret job its going to cost around
the same price as the bass. If manufacturers were do it at the point of manufacture
as an option it will be far cheaper.

So why don't the manufacturers start offering the options that might actually sell
more guitars?

Can we start an allergy sufferers corner and campaign the manufacturers?
So far I have written to Ibanez, Aria Pro and Epiphone about the issue.
So far I haven't received a reply. Does anyone else have an interest in a campaign?

Itchy and hurting - Tee.

I want to thank everyone for their comments in this thread. Yes I understand any change is difficult especially when it involves big corporations and money.
Connected by my thoughts only I remember CAMRA. In the UK in 1971 there was a campaign for change. In that time it wasn't for nickel free guitars, it was another love of most bassists. Beer!
It was in fact a campaign for real beer, or to give it the correct name real cask conditioned ale.
It was a reaction to the automated same tasting English keg beers filled with chemicals that were in every pub of the day. Within a short few years there were real ale pubs and breweries everywhere.
The big breweries could not change quickly enough, or they thought they knew what their customers wanted more than their customers did. Some of the Keg breweries Watney's and Charrington folded or got merged as a result. "Are you listening Gibson???"

Invalid Link Removed

 

[jmlee]

I play a ukulele bass that has rubber strings and not a bit of nickel anywhere.

What are the frets made of?