Strings for tricone vs strings for single cone

[Deleted]

I never paid serious attention to the strings I put on my reso guitars (basses yes) - usually just acoustic guitar light to med lite sets. l just now finally ordered several sets of Newtone MM 15-56s and looking forward to stringing up my D and G tuned duolians, triolians and other single cone Nationals. Looking back thru forum posts regarding string gauge, I read where 16-59s are suggested mostly for tricones. Is that because the 3 cones are stronger than a single cone, and less prone to collapse? Is it a bad idea to put 16-59s on a vintage single cone National...or ok if it is a new cone? Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

[bonzo]

Hi Fred, I won't comment on the single cones other than I've found the Newtone 15's excellent. If you haven't tried them you're in for a treat! Put the 16's on the tri cone and watch out! I think you'll be amazed at the sound.
If you don't know already (It's on the packaging) only trim the strings once they are tuned up on the guitar.
Glad you're well, have fun!

Best wishes to you all, John

[blueshome]

Following a little experimentation I use 15-56 Newtones on the Fine Resophonic triplate for 15 years and love the sound, but mainly for slide. As for the single cone I’ve used them but have reverted to 13-56 and currently 12-52. You don’t have to go heavy just because it’s a resonator.

[bonzo]

Hi blueshome, agree with you that you don't need heavy strings just because it's a resonator. However I think it's generally agreed that if you are going to be sliding a lot, heavier strings are generally considered better for that purpose.
Best wishes to you all, John

[resotonic]

Info passed on to me by The 12th Fret is that Dobro spider bridge guitars do not like heavy gauge; 13's are good. Single cone & Tricones can handle the .016's no prob.

[janatore]

Hey there

Edit: i should have read more closely. So i missed the main points that were to be answered.


I use 016 to 056 strings since 13 years on my resonators and play both slide and conventional on Tricones and single cones.
It seems heavy yes. I am trained to play that way and need to keep me trained (what i can not realky because most if my time theese days i am a social worker earning money for my family and being a family guy). I like this gage. 2 years ago i changed to the Newtone Michael Messer strings mostly 016 (for nice strong slide tones) to 056 or sometimes the heavy set with 016 to 059. The bit less string tension i like pretty much. Modern hexagol strings broke while tuning switching (the e or g strings mostly). That does not occure any more with the Newtones. And they last longer.
I guess this topic has often been discussed here though.
I like the sound of the heavier strings. 012 to 054 or pure 013 to 056 gauged strings are not what i like so much like the heavier versions. It just sounds clearer, more pronounced and mid ranged to my ears. Lighter strings tend to sound lighter, more dull, slide playing does more fret buzzing and unclearness i think. To me the cone/cones do not sound "loaded" enough plus slide playing sounds better to me with the heavier ones. Just my personal thoughts on that.

Quote: "don’t have to go heavy just because it’s a resonator"
I agree totally. Your ears and feel fir what is comfortable for you decides i guess after some experimenting.

[Michael Messer]

Fred, Back in the old days when I first started playing National and Dobro guitars, I used to use 13/56 on all my guitars. Then, when I got to know Bob Brozman in the 1980s I was converted to using 16/59s on all my guitars. Brozman used 16/59s on all his instruments. I used the 16/59s on everything for around ten years until 1998 when I converted to using 15/56 MM Newtones on all my round neck guitars, but on square neck Triplates in low bass tunings I continued using 16/59s and sometimes still do occasionally. However, mostly these days, because I go from low bass D (DADF#AD) to high bass G (GBDGBD) on the same guitar, my square neck Fine Resophonic Triplate, I generally leave MM 15/56s on it. I would say that for open tunings on resonator guitars you will struggle to beat 15 17 26 36 46 56, but if the 15 is too much, go with a 13 or 14. Newtone and I have done the 15/56 and the 13/56 sets for 28 years and in that time they are almost an industry standard used by players all over the world. At one time, back in Don Young's time, we supplied around 300 sets a year to NRP.

What Phil says is also true, so the bottom line is to use what feels right.

It's amazing how much my touch has changed over the decades, becoming more gentle, melodic and considered, where it used to be much harder, rhythmic and brash.

To answer your question - Triplates do not need more string to drive the cones as they are in fact more delicate and responsive than a 9.5" single cone.

Shine On
Michael

[bonzo]

Sorry Fred, I thought I'd read on the forum that 16's were the way to go on tricones!
I've certainly put the Newtones' on mine.

Best wishes to you all, John
.

[Deleted]

Thanks. I think I will especially see noticable improvement in the tonality of the top strings, since usually running with 10, 11s or so from the standard guitar sets I have used in my resos. Also has been a pleasant experience on the Newtone website and followup confirmation. Looking forward to getting the strings.

[joephoto]

Speaking of strings, are the string sets mentioned above flat wound or round wound, are they available in both and is one preferred over the other for resonator guits?

[Michael Messer]

May 26, 2020 0:17:42 GMT joephoto said:

Speaking of strings, are the string sets mentioned above flat wound or round wound, are they available in both and is one preferred over the other for resonator guits?

They are round wound. Flat wound are okay on electric guitars, but not acoustic as there is no volume from them.

Shine On
Michael