RESONATOR STRINGS

[blackjack]

Hi Michael,

A question on Newtone Strings.

I got a Lightning from Robin last year,strung with MM Newtone Nationals .013 - .56 (may take your tip and swop to .015 in future) they have been good, but last week I restrung my Solophonic with a set of MM Electric Slide Classics .013 -.052 and these are fantastic.

They give a really clear bright sound and even with my poor technique sound great sound on the lower strings.

My question is, do you reckon the electrics would work on the Lightning?

Are two types of string very different in manufacture?

Thanks Michael, Cheers, Jack.

[andys]

I use the Newtone Electric strings on my MM Blues, in fact I prefer nickel plated strings on acoustics anyway.

My dreadnought acoustic has nickel plated strings too.

I'd give them a try.

[Michael Messer]

Hi Jack,

There are no rules about this. Whichever strings feel and sound right to you, are the right ones.

When I designed the MM National strings with Newtone, back in 1992, they were not available with 13s, only 15s. They were designed to balance out when tuning down the top string from E to D in open tunings. The 13s go on MM guitars because we did not think it right to supply strings on a new guitar that are for open tunings.

There are two types of MM National strings - phosphor bronze in the red packet, and nickel in the blue packet. I would recommend the nickel 15/56 set for your MM Lightning, as they were designed for that type of guitar in open tunings. Tuning up to pitch at slightly less tension than other strings is part of what makes them so good on resonator guitars.

MM Electric Slide Classics are a completely different design with different cores to the National strings, and were designed specifically for electric guitars with magnetic pickups. However.....as I said, there are no rules and if you like the Slide Classics, go with them. But my advice would be to try the MM Nationals in the blue & silver packet.

.....just to add to the confusion; I sometimes put the MM National nickel strings (blue packet) (15/56) on my electric guitar!!!!

Let me know how you get on,

Shine On
Michael

[blackjack]

Thanks Michael + Andy,

I will experiment and report back!

Cheers,Jack