Newtone Strings ! help

[kim]

Hi everyone, I have a Taylor acoustic guitar, with D'Addario 12s on it, but its killing me to play it, I changed strings to 11s, I lowered the action by 1mm, so its not that,
I checked the nut depths etc, those are good, I levelled a few frets, set the truss rod, all good now, but the 11s are still killing me, perhaps I have been spending too much time on my MM resonator playing slide and my fingers have gone a bit soft.
Would it help to replace the 11 D'Addario's with 11s Newtone round core's, would this be less tension and would I be able to fret the chords and single strings easier?,
I'm on Newtone's website at the moment, but don't know which one to choose from, any pointers? thanks in advance,
best regards Kim

[pete1951]

I would think Newtone sets that have an 012 top string would have a slightly lower tension on the bass strings. That said , there are some lower tension strings that many shops stock. These are ‘Silk and Steel’ , the have a small nylon (?) wrapping between the core and nickel (?) winding. They are less bright than standard strings but might be worth a try. You may need to enlarge your nut slots with the Newtones as usually the bass strings are a little thicker than a standard 012-054 set.
But as I said they have a less treble tone, so if you like bright strings, go with some Newtones

I have a few guitars with Newtone but change strings infrequently, there should be some on the forum with more experience in these matters.
Pete

[snakehips]

Hi there !

If you managed with 12’s on your MM reso guitar, I don’t understand why you are struggling with 11’s.
Are you talking your fretting hand fingers, or your picking fingers ?
Are you using thumb and fingerpicks on your reso, then bare fingers on your other guitar ?
I’ve usually got to play a lot for a week or two before a gig to toughen up the finger-tip callouses (both hands) than let them go soft when I’ve not been playing enough at home, or concentrating on piano playing gigs.

[slide496]

Don't think you would know if Newtones are good for that until you try them, Having tried both Daddario and Newtones I couldn't tell the different tensionwise.

If you are testing you might consider getting both 12 and 11's from Newtone.

[mrstrellisofnwales]

I like the Newtone Heritage strings for a slightly lower tension.But it sounds like there could be more to it than that. If the neck profiles are different you might be fretting at a very slightly different angle. Are the edges of the fingerboard rolled, or with a sharper edge as many brand new guitars have?I like rolled but many don’t.  What about the fret heights and profiles. How do they differ.Hammers/ Pulls and bends can feel very different on different height/ profile frets.  And although many might disagree, I’m not sure that lower action always makes for more comfort especially on the first few frets. I have a strat with supposedly perfect playable speed action but I like something for fingers to bite on sometimes and for an hour’s play on the couch it would be my last choice of the instruments I have. Sometimes you have to grin and bear the fact that when you have more than one guitar they are going to feel different and just alternate between them more frequently so you become more adaptable. Anyone who has both 6 string and 12 strings will know it can take some time to achieve this.
Mrs T

[kim]

Thanks everyone for the replies much appreciated, I was off the forum for a week, couldn't reply sorry, I will reply soon to all, thanks for taking the time and answering my question
Kim

[littlebobby]

Do the frets need dressing?

[kim]

Apr 4, 2023 22:49:12 GMT mrstrellisofnwales said:

I like the Newtone Heritage strings for a slightly lower tension.But it sounds like there could be more to it than that. If the neck profiles are different you might be fretting at a very slightly different angle. Are the edges of the fingerboard rolled, or with a sharper edge as many brand new guitars have?I like rolled but many don’t.  What about the fret heights and profiles. How do they differ.Hammers/ Pulls and bends can feel very different on different height/ profile frets.  And although many might disagree, I’m not sure that lower action always makes for more comfort especially on the first few frets. I have a strat with supposedly perfect playable speed action but I like something for fingers to bite on sometimes and for an hour’s play on the couch it would be my last choice of the instruments I have. Sometimes you have to grin and bear the fact that when you have more than one guitar they are going to feel different and just alternate between them more frequently so you become more adaptable. Anyone who has both 6 string and 12 strings will know it can take some time to achieve this.
Mrs T

[kim]

Thanks Mrs T for the advice and info
Kim

[kim]

littlebobby, the frets are brand new, they are well dressed
#Kim

[kim]

I tune at 432 as well so I think that helps a bit with string tension as well, just wondering what the Newtones for resonators would sound like on a standard acoustic.
Kim

[Pickers Ditch]

Apr 18, 2023 7:58:07 GMT kim said:

I tune at 432 as well so I think that helps a bit with string tension as well, just wondering what the Newtones for resonators would sound like on a standard acoustic.
Kim

They sound good.
I use them on my parlours - excellent!

[Michael Messer]

Hi Kim,

I have missed this thread, so just catching up now

Newtone round cores will be easier on the fingers. You can go with Newtone Masterclass or MMs, whichever you fancy.

To answer your question, which PD has also answered, the MMs are great on all guitars. I have used them on every guitar I have played in the last thirty years and always been happy.
(PS...not advertising, just talking from a player's point of view)

And again... (PS...not advertising, just talking from a player's point of view) I have become so used to round cores that any string of similar gauges to the ones I use seem hard and not at all tactile. I don't notice it with lighter strings because it's a different feel anyway.

Shine On
Michael

[kim]

Thanks Michael, I will try that, good to know, I think my fingers went a bit soft as well playing resonator for a long time and then playing acoustic again, some difference for a while, also with playing electric a lot its so easy, you get spoilt a bit, then going back to acoustic seems hard, hard to get that nice low action on an acoustic compared to electric, Hi Michael I sometimes put a plain third string (g) on an acoustic but sometimes it sounds a bit flat, its great for bending etc, any tips about that?
Kim

[Michael Messer]

My pleasure Kim.

Maybe try a lighter gauge plain 3rd. I think 22 goes with 13-56 set.

Shine On
Michael