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Post by skateborg23 on Jul 22, 2024 17:33:24 GMT
Last night I installed a new set of Newtone Strings Michael Messer Signature Guitar Strings .013-.056 on my MM Fiddle Edge resonator guitar. My usual routine when changing strings is to remove the old set, clip the new set to the same lengths as the old set, then install the new set. I've done this hundreds of times on my acoustic, resonator, and electric guitars over the past 50 years of playing guitar.
As I was tuning up the new set of Newtone MM Signature strings, I was shocked and dismayed by the noise of plonky dead sounding E-A-D-G wound strings. They sounded like rubber bands had been wrapped around them. My first reaction was perhaps I had done something horribly bad to the spider bridge and/or cone and/or maple saddle, so I loosened all the strings, removed the cover plate, removed the tailpiece, and carefully examined the resonator assembly. Nothing whatsoever was wrong with the resonator, so I put everything back together, restrung the guitar ... then again heard wonky-donky-plonky-dead E-A-D-G strings.
I did the entire disassembly & reassembly process again. Same result. This time I noticed that the Newtone MM Signature E and A strings appeared to be unraveling before my eyes. I've never seen this before in all the years that I've worked on guitars. I searched online for "defective Newtone Strings" and "unraveled Michael Messer Signature Guitar Strings" and "signs of defective wound guitar strings" - which resulted in a rather obscure comment, "don't cut Newtone Strings until after they are wound on the pegs." This left me baffled.
How are we to wind full-length strings onto the tuning pegs before clipping off the usual 3" to 4" of excess string, especially on a slotted headstock like the MM Fiddle Edge?
The new set of Newtone MM Signature strings was now totally trashed, so into the bin they went. I then installed a tried-and-true set of Martin Retro Monel Strings .012-.054, which have never presented any issues on any guitar I've ever put them on.
Cheers from San Francisco,
Kevin
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Jul 22, 2024 17:56:24 GMT
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 22, 2024 18:22:31 GMT
PD is correct - MM Strings have round cores and therefore MUST be cut after tightening them onto the tuning post. It is written on the back of the pack in bold letters IMPORTANT! etc....
MM Newtone Strings have existed for 32 years and in that time many tens of thousands of them have been sold. For fifteen years or so they were supplied to National Resophonic Guitars for use at their trade shows. For the first 20 years of their existence they were pretty much the industry standard worldwide. Don Young, the late owner of NRP said they were the best strings he had ever used, so I am confident with the product.
Such things happen. Are you Kevin, graphic designer, in SF? I will send you a couple of sets. No charge....on me.
Such is life!
Shine On
Michael
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Post by bonzo on Jul 22, 2024 19:14:05 GMT
Hi Kevin. With the possible exception of Michael, who helped design the strings, most of us have done the same thing!
They may be a bit more fiddley but the end result is well worth the effort. 🙂👍🎸
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Post by zimmharpo23 on Jul 23, 2024 9:53:00 GMT
Boy am I glad I read this thread!
I’ll be buying some of these strings in the next month or so myself, so thank you all for the heads up about how best to put them on.
Best wishes
Andy
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Jul 23, 2024 11:22:16 GMT
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Post by leeophonic on Jul 23, 2024 20:57:11 GMT
I made that mistake once, and cursed myself for going at it without reading the instructions, I have since used them countless times, it is a mistake you only make once as the 1st time heightens the senses.
If you get the chance Kevin give them another go, they are good strings.
Regards
Lee
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Post by tokyo on Jul 24, 2024 8:45:22 GMT
Last night I installed a new set of Newtone Strings Michael Messer Signature Guitar Strings .013-.056 on my MM Fiddle Edge resonator guitar. My usual routine when changing strings is to remove the old set, clip the new set to the same lengths as the old set, then install the new set. I've done this hundreds of times on my acoustic, resonator, and electric guitars over the past 50 years of playing guitar.
As I was tuning up the new set of Newtone MM Signature strings, I was shocked and dismayed by the noise of plonky dead sounding E-A-D-G wound strings. They sounded like rubber bands had been wrapped around them. My first reaction was perhaps I had done something horribly bad to the spider bridge and/or cone and/or maple saddle, so I loosened all the strings, removed the cover plate, removed the tailpiece, and carefully examined the resonator assembly. Nothing whatsoever was wrong with the resonator, so I put everything back together, restrung the guitar ... then again heard wonky-donky-plonky-dead E-A-D-G strings.
I did the entire disassembly & reassembly process again. Same result. This time I noticed that the Newtone MM Signature E and A strings appeared to be unraveling before my eyes. I've never seen this before in all the years that I've worked on guitars. I searched online for "defective Newtone Strings" and "unraveled Michael Messer Signature Guitar Strings" and "signs of defective wound guitar strings" - which resulted in a rather obscure comment, "don't cut Newtone Strings until after they are wound on the pegs." This left me baffled.
How are we to wind full-length strings onto the tuning pegs before clipping off the usual 3" to 4" of excess string, especially on a slotted headstock like the MM Fiddle Edge?
The new set of Newtone MM Signature strings was now totally trashed, so into the bin they went. I then installed a tried-and-true set of Martin Retro Monel Strings .012-.054, which have never presented any issues on any guitar I've ever put them on.
Cheers from San Francisco,
Kevin
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Post by tokyo on Jul 24, 2024 8:51:11 GMT
Hello I just put a set of them on my MM wood Blues ...Get the length 90 bend a touch of Solder snip off hey presto stops the unwind.Ps a shout out to Michael fitted the set of tuners you sent me they are good quality got that 2011 14 fret MM all ship shape now Thank you and genuine regards .
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 24, 2024 21:52:30 GMT
You don’t need the solder, just a 90 degree bend with a pair of pliers will do it. I fit them that way on the few of my guitars that have tuners that require the strings to be cut first
Shine On
Michael
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Post by Michael Messer on Jul 25, 2024 8:52:44 GMT
Thinking about this thread while drifting off to sleep last night, I calculated that have fitted around 8000 sets of MM Newtone strings since we started in 1992. In that time and through all those strings, I reckon that no more than a dozen strings have failed due to a fault with the windings. I have never had a string fail due to the way I fitted it. That's not a bad track record is it.
Many years ago I was taught by the late Malcolm Newton how to wind a string. Needless to say I completely bolloxed it up! It is not an easy thing to do, it takes great skill and lots of experience to hand-wind guitar strings perfectly every time.
Shine On
Michael
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Post by skateborg23 on Jul 26, 2024 15:51:47 GMT
Hi Michael,
Yes, it's Kevin Barnard, graphic designer in San Francisco. Thank you – and everyone else here in this thread – for your sage advice as to the proper way to install Newtone Strings.
That is very generous of you to send me a couple of sets! Since I'm mostly a fingerpicker, my string gauge preference is .012-.054
Best regards, Kevin
PD is correct - MM Strings have round cores and therefore MUST be cut after tightening them onto the tuning post. It is written on the back of the pack in bold letters IMPORTANT! etc....MM Newtone Strings have existed for 32 years and in that time many tens of thousands of them have been sold. For fifteen years or so they were supplied to National Resophonic Guitars for use at their trade shows. For the first 20 years of their existence they were pretty much the industry standard worldwide. Don Young, the late owner of NRP said they were the best strings he had ever used, so I am confident with the product. Such things happen. Are you Kevin, graphic designer, in SF? I will send you a couple of sets. No charge....on me. Such is life! Shine On Michael |
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