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Post by fredkinbom on Sept 24, 2007 14:59:41 GMT
Just wanted to post how happy I am with the Newtone "Michael Messer Electric Slide Classics" strings. I have custom extra heavy gauge strings on my 1937 National New Yorker and they sound and feel great and last very long! I just changed the first set I tried after more than 2 months of pretty much daily use (and the reason I changed them was not because they didn't sound right anymore but because I had taken them off twice to access the electronics of the guitar, and the round-core nature of these strings makes them prone to unravelling if slackened after being cut, so after the second time I took them off they did not hold the tuning as well as before). I use Newtone Alohas on my hollowneck too, and they also last for ages - I change them every six to eight weeks or so. I don't know what makes the Newtone strings last longer than other strings but it makes the higher price (compared to buying mass produced strings online from the US) totally worth it. The only downside in my experience have been some administrational glitches with shipping but the quality of these strings more than makes up for that. Fred
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Post by growler on Sept 24, 2007 15:31:28 GMT
HI Fredkinbom I could not agree with you more, they are superb strings I have them on my Les Paul, they have been on for ages . Regarding the supply of them I think I got my last 2 sets from 'Frets ' and he sent them over to me in France very quickly, no problem.
Regards Growler
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 24, 2007 15:41:08 GMT
Hi Fred,
Thanks for posting your kind message.
I am pleased you are happy with the various Newtone strings. One of the reasons they last longer is because the dirt springs out the windings. This is because of the round core. Hexagonal core strings hold on to the dirt. Another reason would be that Malcolm Newton buys the finest quality materials available.
We started producing Newtone National strings in 1992, but it wasn't until 1998 that Don Young at National Resophonic Guitars actually saw a set. One of the contributing factors that allowed us to carry on using the National name a logo, was that these were the best strings he had ever seen.
Malcolm Newton is a master craftsman & his quality control is first class. The administration glitches that you mentioned are I think due to the popularity of Newtone Strings and the fact that Malcolm will not reduce quality to speed up production. These are produced by three people in a small workshop using old fashioned string winding and packaging equipment.
The only way to beat the administration problems is to order well in advance of needing them.
I have now used Newtone strings exclusively on all my guitars for the past 15 years.
Long may they continue!
Shine On Michael
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Post by LouisianaGrey on Sept 24, 2007 16:06:14 GMT
I got some strings from Malcolm recently and the current wait is under a month, but I have had to wait as long as 6 months depending on the demand at the time of ordering. He works on a "first come, first served" principle and no queue jumping no matter who you are (quite right too).
I use the Electric Slide Classics on my electric resos and they are excellent.
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Post by Alan on Sept 25, 2007 9:02:51 GMT
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Post by snakehips on Sept 25, 2007 12:02:45 GMT
I bought 10 sets of Newtone strings a while back and never used them all - I use regular strings now - well, D'Addario coated strings 13-56 for most of my guitars. I used up all the unwound strings though. I have 3 or 4 sets of wound Newtone strings - 59,49,39,27 (I think they are the guages) I remember the 1st strings were 16 but what was the 2nd string ? 18 ? Were the unwound strings any different than more famous manufacturers of strings ? If not, if anyone is interested, I could sell the lot of wound Newton strings (I'll put it in the Tin Can Alley section) - and the buyer would just need to add their preference of unwound strings. Phosphor bronze set by the way.
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Post by robn on Sept 25, 2007 13:52:14 GMT
Hi Snakehips,
I've dropped you a PM ref the strings.
Robn
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 25, 2007 14:06:53 GMT
I like the direction this thread has gone in Anyone wanna buy some strings!!!! (only teasing) Richard - the set you have is a heavy guage 16 18 27 39 49 59. If you want a plain G ....I think a 22p is the right gauge. Shine On, Michael
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Post by tark on Sept 25, 2007 14:46:50 GMT
I haven't done any direct comparisons between different makes of plain strings but I would be extremely surprised if there was any noticeable difference between most of them (assuming the same gage).
Many string manufacturers get their music wire from the same wire mill so the materials are likely to be the same. Plain strings are usually cut and have the ball ends twist locked on, entirely automatically by machine. Many string makers use the same machines to do this. Some plain strings are different, for example the Martin brass coated SP strings or the Maxima golds.
With the Newtone wound strings I either solder the ends or dab a little nail polish on them after I have fitted and cut them, to stop them unwinding (being very careful not to burn or get any nail polish on the guitar headstock). You can also unhook the wound strings at the tail piece and give them a few turns anticlockwise before hooking them back in, to make sure the windings are nice and tight. This way I can take my guitars apart as many times as I like without worrying about the strings unwinding.
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Post by robn on Sept 25, 2007 15:00:55 GMT
Hi Tark,
The "12-Fret" have something to say about Newtone plain strings:
The "Plain" Truth In my experience as a guitar player and a luthier/co-owner of the Twelfth Fret, I've found that all plain strings are the same no matter what brand I tried. Though some differences show up in the wound strings, the plain E, B and G strings are all the same. But Newtone plain strings are different! The plains are smoother and intonate more accurately. The extra heavy top grade tin plating gives a nicer feel and longer life.
Grant MacNeill (pres. Twelfth Fret Inc.)
I'm not sure what to make of this but it's interesting anecdotal evidence.
Robn
PS - Those heavy gauge Newtones work great on my dobro in open D - and I know where I can get Newtone plain gauge strings!
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Post by snakehips on Sept 25, 2007 15:23:11 GMT
Hi again !
So, are the unwound Newtone strings any different than other makes then ?
PS. I wasn't after an unwound 3rd string !
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 25, 2007 16:39:36 GMT
Hi Tark,
Newtone Strings use a better quality plain string than most of the companies that produce strings. They also use top quality Swiss-made brass ball-ends and top quality phosphor bronze & nickel windings. Sometimes the delay in getting strings from Newtone is nothing to do with being in a long queue, it can be related to Malcolm waiting for the best quality components.
I have used literally thousands of Newtone strings over fifteen years on all of my guitars and I have never had one unwind on me once it is wrapped around a tuner. On one guitar I have Fender type tuners, so the strings have to be cut before putting them on the tuner. In this case I just bend a right angle before cutting it to length. I have never had one unravel yet.
I can see no point at all in painting nail varnish or soldering the end of the string. I also don't agree that you should unwind the ball-end and tighten the winding. Newtone are fastidious about the making of their strings; each ball-end is hand twisted with a home-built 'ball-end-twisting-device'. They do not use a machine, they use a pair of adapted pliers and an adapted hand-drill. Each string is wound by hand, not by an auto-string winding machine, at the perfect speed so as not to overheat the winding and to get the winding even and tight. So they are not made like most other brands with machine that one can buy from a string-makers' wholesaler.
If I take my strings off to open a resophonic guitar, which I very rarely do, I put a new set of strings on. I would not trust any string after it had been removed and replaced.
Less opening of Nationals and MORE PLAYING!!!!!
Shine On Michael
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Post by fredkinbom on Sept 25, 2007 16:52:03 GMT
Last year I ordered some Newtone Alohas for an old Oahu lap steel with "Safe-ti-string" (or whatever they were called) tuner posts (the string had to be pre-cut and inserted into the post). I explained my predicament and thought I would have to get another brand of strings, but Neil or Malcolm said "How long do you need them to be?" and made not only custom gauge but custom length strings that required no cutting! Fred
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Post by snakehips on Sept 25, 2007 16:55:54 GMT
Hi again !
Coming from the other side of the arguament (but not in disagreement) - I don't think I have ever had the ball-end thing come off - thus have never needed to do any extra things to the strings - other than to put them on and play the damn thing !!!!!
Martin SP coated strings ! They are the worst I have ever tried - they kept slipping on my Waverly tuners - too damned slippy !
How is nail varnish gonna be strong enough to hold anything together ? Plus sticking nail varnish in your gig bag is bound to get allegations of being a "sissie" from your band mates anyway - I certainly couldn't risk that - I'd rather my strings bust !!!
I think we need to get back to discussing things like whether a silver duco Duolian has a better tone than a green duco Duolian !!!
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 25, 2007 17:01:16 GMT
Snakehips, Green Duco tends to be better for jazz styles and the silver for blues & ragtime. I have heard jazz players using silver duco Duolians, but very rarely the other way around. However there are as we know....always exceptions to every rule!
Shine On Michael
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