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D'Addario

The pH of your hand perspiration is interacting with the nickel in the strings. Mine do the same thing, to the point I corrode nickel and cannot use pure nickel wrap strings, and conventional "nickel plated" rounds go dead after only one gig.

Try stainless steel strings or, if they are too bright for your purposes, GHS Progressives, which have more iron and less nickel in the mix, or if you're into flatwounds, then Chromes have ping and thud, and Fender 9050CL's have more growl.
 
Nickel allergy... not uncommon. Differences in body chemistry react with Nickel plating. Try D'add Pro Steels or Roto 66. Even SS has SOME Nickel in it but ususally not enough to cause a reaction. These D'adds and Rotos have less Nickel than most.
 
I read about the black stuff that comes on D'addarios here on TB before I bought them. You can clean it off with rubbing alcohol, easiest before you put them on. Or it will come off bit by bit on your fingers as you play, and when it is gone it will be gone, it's not your fingers interacting chemically.
 
The D stands for dirty?

First time using these strings and after a three hour practice last night, my right hand finger tips are black. I can still see it after taking a shower.

Wow, I use D'Addario EXL170TP (twin pack) strings and I love them, and I’ve never experienced anything like that.

What gives here?

Maybe it has something to do with your personal body chemistry/sweat. :confused:
 
Just got an email from Don at D Addario offering a free replacement set. Didn't feel like I was wronged or anything so I politely declined the free set.

It was certainly nice to see a response from a big company so quickly.

Thank you Don.

Oh and btw, do like the sound on my strings.
 
D'Addarios are not going to leave black marks on you out of the box. Ever!!! You are picking up dirt elsewhere. I have purchaced atleast 200 sets of D'Addarios, and these are so well sealed and spotlessly clean, this leads me to think that you must have a dirty fretboard. The nickel wounds do not have any corrosion period, if they do out of the box, they should be sent back as the factory would like to see it, along with the wrappings. When you take just about any other brand string out of the box, before you install it , pull it through a clean white cloth, It will be dark or black , never a D'Addario. As long as the packaging has not been tampered with your D'Addarios will stay new in the factory wrapping for years. Bass Whaler
 
I also get the black finder tips when I use D'Addario's, but it's no big deal. This doesn't happen with any other comparable string and after a few days with the D's it's gone. I just figured it was part of the territory and again, no biggie.
 
That's strange, I have been a D'Addario faithful for years but I never had that happen to me or even heard about that happening until your post. But yeah it must be your body chemistry reacting with the strings or something.