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Nickel Allergy and Frets

B

bdkthunder

Mar 23, 2012
70
0
Toronto, Canada
#1
I have a nickel allergy (watches and belts cause rashes) and I believe it has now progressed to me being affected by my bass. Recently I have noticed that my hands are getting bumps and rashes after I have been playing and I believe it is because of the frets on my bass (Epi Tbird ProV). I was already using stainless steel strings before my hands started to be affected so I am thinking it is very likely the frets, which I didn't realize before that they are usually made of nickel-silver. So I am looking to figure out the best way to go nickel free.

The main options I have determined for me are:
1. Re-fret with either stainless steel or EVO gold fretwire (not sure of cost).
2. Buy a Warwick, which I have read use bell bronze frets and do not contain nickel (high cost option).
3. Go fretless (would probably buy in the low-mid cost range).

I have read about using silk gloves but my hands sweat a lot (part of the reason for the problem) and it would probably be less comfortable to wear gloves so I would prefer not to. I do wash my hands after I play but it still affects me sometimes.


So my questions to you are as follows:
1. How much approx. would a re-fret with stainless steel or evo gold cost? I read a ballpark of $150-400 in other posts. Is there any more risk to doing a re-fret on a neckthrough bass?

2. Besides Warwick, are there any other bass manufacturers that use special frets that might be nickel free?

3. Is switching to a fretless electric going to be a huge change? I used to play double bass in high school but only play electric right now. Is there going to be a huge tone difference? I mostly play punk music and usually play with a pick but I can play with fingers too.

4. What route do you think I should go? Should I look to just buying basses that are nickel free from the start (Warwick, fretless or other) or should I just consider on any new bass I buy that I have to re-fret it and factor that into the cost of it?

I'm trying to figure out if buying a new bass is in my near future or if I should just spend the cost of upgrading my current bass.
Thanks for any help.
 
#2
Many stainless steel alloys also contain nickel, so don't jump the gun and replace your frets just yet!

You said your "hands" (plural) are getting this rash. Is your "pick" hand getting the rash as well, and if it is, how much contact is it making with the frets?
 
#3
I have a nickel allergy also. Its the most common allergy.

Be aware that stainless steel can commonly contain nickel. You might want to check with string manufacturers to find out who uses the least nickel.

Also almost any metal you come in contact with during the day will have nickel in it. And the more you come in contact with nickel, the more sensitive your body becomes to it and inceases the allergic reaction. As a consequence, you will get the same allergic reaction with less exposure to nickel over time.
 
#4
If you really like your bass, then it's certainly feasible to refret it. Probably a better bet than buying another bass solely on the composition of its frets - you may hate everything else about it. Fretless is a whole other matter. They sound significantly different and, of course, play differently.
 
#5
Tomorrow said:
Many stainless steel alloys also contain nickel, so don't jump the gun and replace your frets just yet!

You said your "hands" (plural) are getting this rash. Is your "pick" hand getting the rash as well, and if it is, how much contact is it making with the frets?
Click to expand...
+1

Before I'd do anything I'd pick of a set of nylon tapewound strings and see if that stops the problem.
 
#7
I wouldn't hestitate going with stainless frets again.
I had one of my basses fretted with stainless and I couldn't be happier it. Sound killer, I don't have to worry about fret wear as I'm not hard on standard frets anyway. And anybody who's picked it up loves how it plays as well.
 
#8
It's mostly just on my left (fretting) hand that the rash appears the worst. My hands do sweat a lot when I play so I think it's just whatever contact my left hand makes with my other hand or other areas of my body I might inadvertently touch with it (I have recently had other mysterious rashes come and go on my neck and behind ears which I'm thinking may be related).

I think regardless of the string type though, the frets are for sure made with nickel, based on it being the standard type of fretwire I've come to understand, so that would need to be addressed anyways. My gut feeling is that it's not the strings. The rash is usually worst on my fingers on my left hand right between my knuckles where it would be rubbing against the neck.

Trying the nylon strings would probably be the cheapest first option to try but I feel it wouldn't fix the problem. I'd only be comfortable to know if the string contains no nickel rather than if it just had a coating (because it can wear off) so contacting manufacturers would be the next step to going nickel free for strings.

So assuming the stainless steel strings I'm using, roto 66s, are low or no nickel and not causing the issue, having a different type of fret is still the main issue. This is the point I get to in my reasoning and figure I need to have a bass with nickel free frets, whether that is in getting it refret or buying something without nickel.

In all my online searching, the majority of posts addressed nickel allergy to strings and not much about the frets hence my post to further discuss options for those with nickel allergies and having a bass with nickel free frets.
 
#11
Tomorrow said:
Many stainless steel alloys also contain nickel, so don't jump the gun and replace your frets just yet!
Click to expand...


This is true....but, the nickel is most stainless steel is bound so tight that most people with a nickel allergy do not have a reaction to stainless steel (there are always exceptions). I have a nickel allergy too and the main problem is moisture on the skin and contact with nickel. This is where the reaction comes from normally. Belt buckles, watches, earrings, and nickel/nickelplated strings were the worst offenders for me. Thank God I haven't had any issues with fret wire or normal day to day objects other than those listed above. Cleaning up my diet has helped with the reactions as well.
 
#12
If you are not reacting to stainless steel strings, it's not likely you will react to stainless frets. I think it's a good bet. Bell metal frets are a kind of brass, and generally that means an alloy of copper and zinc. You should have no problem there. However, bell-metal is not a technical term and could contain anything.
 
#14
Thanks everyone for all the help so far. It's certainly a pickle trying to determine exactly what is causing the problems. I had a gig last night and I did notice my picking hand did get a small reaction but not as much as my fretting hand and I played one song with fingers. It's odd though because on my picking hand, the rash is not on any of the parts of my hand that would make contact with the strings. Perhaps it's just from contact with my left hand. I'm thinking that maybe there is a slight chance that it could be the string, rotosound 66 SS. The other strings I usually use are the daddario prosteels. I've emailed the manufacturers to see if those strings contain nickel or not. The daddario website says the prosteels and chromes are suitable for people with nickel allergies. Ill probably switch to the prosteels once I hear back if they are guaranteed nickel free. Not all stainless has to contain nickel. I bought a nickel free belt and they said its a special stainless steel alloy. I also wear a ring that's made of SS and its never been a problem. So steel frets would probably be ok. The EVO gold are another option too which the jescar website said are nickel free but I don't know if they'll be similar price to getting steel. Ill just shop around the local music stores to get some quotes for a refret.

As for bell metal frets, at least as found on warwicks, I saw a post on a forum on their website that said that their bell bronze fretwire contains no nickel. So a Warwick with steel strings should work perfect if I wanted to spend that kind of money.

As for fretless basses, I don't have much experience with playing them and I was watching a bunch of YouTube videos to get a better idea of the tone and I don't think it really appeals to my tastes. So no fretless for now.

So I think I've decided at least that I'm down to either getting a refret or buying a bass that has no nickel frets (assuming the prosteels or nylon tape wound strings don't fix it). I think I read somewhere that warmoth might have steel fret necks so that could be another option to look into.
 
#17
bdkthunder said:
I'm thinking that maybe there is a slight chance that it could be the string, rotosound 66 SS. The other strings I usually use are the daddario prosteels. I've emailed the manufacturers to see if those strings contain nickel or not. The daddario website says the prosteels and chromes are suitable for people with nickel allergies. Ill probably switch to the prosteels once I hear back if they are guaranteed nickel free. Not all stainless has to contain nickel. I bought a nickel free belt and they said its a special stainless steel alloy. I also wear a ring that's made of SS and its never been a problem.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna make a statement that hopefully a metallurgist or maybe a string maker (Don Dawson) or somebody can hopefully verify. Stainless steel, when used for string purposes where magnetic properties are needed, HAS to contain nickel otherwise there would be no sound. The nickel that is in stainless steel is bound so tightly (as compared to pure nickel or nickelplating) that it can't come out. Can someone verify this? Iron, nickel, and cobalt are the only three elements ferromagnetic at room temperature and people that are sensitive to nickel sometimes have reaction to cobalt as well.
 
#18
I have an Epi Pro V as well, and the frets are indeed nickel - nickel/silver to be exact, and they're big@ss jumbo frets too so there's a little bit more wire to come into contact with your fretting hand.
A refret would be the way to go if you like the bass.
 
#19
Maybe a dumb idea but have you ever thought about coating the frets with something waterproof? Only the relatively small area that the strings contact the frets needs to be clear, unless you do a lot of string bending. Something like Turtle Wax or clear nail polish could cover the sides and ends of the frets and possibly reduce your symptoms. Just an idea that might buy you more time to find a permanent solution.

You might also look for local people who own basses with stainless frets and try before you go to the trouble/expense of refretting.
 

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