MM/ Newtone 16-59

[mikenewport]

Hi all,

I am currently enjoying sebastapol tuning down to 'C'. Strings D#rect are out of my usual 15 gauge MM/Newtone strings.

I have two guitars, a Busker Deco Tricone and a MM Blues 28. The Deco has a regular set of 15's with an 18 gauge for second string. This plays ok but with a slight lack of tension. The MM Blues 28 however has a 14 gauge string on the 1st and is complaining a bit, probably due to the lack of pressure on the cone (back up to open D and all is well).

In a moment of madness (!) I ordered two sets of 16-59 MM/Newtone strings. are these for square neck guitars, now I'm thinking I may have made a mistake.

Will the strings prove too heavy for finger picking style.

Will the nut/bridge need a bit of easing.

The Deco is mostly used for sliding while the '28 is used for a mixture of sliding and picking. I NEVER tune to concert or higher, nearly all my acoustics are tuned to standard - 1 tone. I also intend to leave both guitars in this low tuning.

Should I return the 16 - 59's , keep them for just the Deco and beef up the 15 gauge set on the '28, or put 16 - 59 on both?

decisions decisions

Mike

ps Blues '28 is becoming a firm friend

[Michael Messer]

Hi Mike,

The 16/59 MM Newtones will be fine on your Busker Deco and on your MMB28. They were designed for use on old National guitars and for quite s few years I used them on all my resonator guitars. They were designed to be used with slack tunings DGDGBD & DADF#AD, or lower, but not higher. I have tried them on an MMB28 and they were great. They will sound good on the Deco too.

Shine On
Michael

[mikenewport]

Thank you Michael, much appreciated.

Mike

[mikenewport]

Hi, just an update. I tried the MM National 16-59 on the Busker Deco and MM Blues '28. I think these strings are great on the Deco but they didn't do it for me on the Blues '28 unfortunately, so back to the 15-56.

Mike

[Michael Messer]

Thanks for letting me know how you got on with the 16/59s.

Shine On
Michael

[Deleted]

Hi Michael
It would be good (for me) if the 13-56 or the 15-56 had an option of the bottom 'E' being a 59.
I did ask the guy (forget his name) but he didn't get back to me.
Regards
TT

[mikenewport]

Hi,

I didn't really explain why the 16-59 didn't work for me, so here goes.

On the Deco tricone, which lives in Vestapol 'C' for sliding, the 16-59 is a great set. I will be sticking to these. I was pleasantly surprised at their playability being so heavy, but they are surprisingly easy going in this tuning.

On the MM Blues '28 I felt the set was a bit heavy overall for my old fingers. The sound was enormous but for tuning to standard tuning(down 1 tone) the tension was too much for my fingers. Others may feel this tension to be ok however. For me the 15-56 set allows me to tune to standard (down 1 tone) and a somewhat 'flexible' vestapol in C. The 15-56 set for me is more versatile.

Hi deuce ,

I think I know here you're coming from wishing for a single alternative string. My particular favorite is the B or 2nd string. This will work well for open G but I always feel it is a bit week for vestapol, which is my main tuning. Only my opinion of course. I considered contacting Mr Newtone about changing the string gauges but never got as far as an order (I think you have to order 5 sets). For me the 15-56 is the best overall set for allround flexibility. Send him an email, I've found they're pretty good at getting back. I've tried a '58 hex core string on the 6th before now. Works for the tension but poorer volume and tone. Hope that helps.

Regards

Mike