Newtone Strings

[Ttamsivart]

After hearing about these stings for a while now, I decided I might give them a try. After digging around on the website, I learned that they are made quite literally down the road from me! After a couple of emails back and forth, I learned that what I was after was in stock and that they were more than happy for me to stop by and pick up some strings.

Early days for the strings but first impressions are favourable (swapped from Thomastik Bebop .012's to Archtop .012-.054 on an FGN Masterfield Jazz FP). What I can say is that Neil at Newtone is a hell of a nice guy and was incredibly helpful. If you're thinking of trying out some new strings, give them a try. They'll do custom sets as well!

[sgcim]

After hearing about these stings for a while now, I decided I might give them a try. After digging around on the website, I learned that they are made quite literally down the road from me! After a couple of emails back and forth, I learned that what I was after was in stock and that they were more than happy for me to stop by and pick up some strings.

Early days for the strings but first impressions are favourable (swapped from Thomastik Bebop .012's to Archtop .012-.054 on an FGN Masterfield Jazz FP). What I can say is that Neil at Newtone is a hell of a nice guy and was incredibly helpful. If you're thinking of trying out some new strings, give them a try. They'll do custom sets as well!

How do they compare to the TI Bebops?

[blackcat]

After hearing about these stings for a while now, I decided I might give them a try. After digging around on the website, I learned that they are made quite literally down the road from me! After a couple of emails back and forth, I learned that what I was after was in stock and that they were more than happy for me to stop by and pick up some strings.

Early days for the strings but first impressions are favourable (swapped from Thomastik Bebop .012's to Archtop .012-.054 on an FGN Masterfield Jazz FP). What I can say is that Neil at Newtone is a hell of a nice guy and was incredibly helpful. If you're thinking of trying out some new strings, give them a try. They'll do custom sets as well!

I seem to remember that the guy who established the company ( near Chesterfield, UK? ) could be the same guy, used to work with huge steel hausers ( is that the term ) and merely scaled down the product when he left? Or something like that. The
early ones ( we used them on certain Peerless models prior to distribution ) were not wound off conclusively, so important to bring to tension before clipping. Is that still the case?

[Ttamsivart]

Tough to really articulate the differences beyond a subjective opinion but I’d say that they feel…beefier…but in a good way.

I love the sound and feel of the TIs but the Newtones definitely drive the top a bit harder and yield a bit more acoustic volume.

I’ll need another week or two to really make up my mind as they settle in but they definitely get a different and perhaps more characterful voice out of this particular instrument.

The .054 is good and sounds clear but for this guitar, I might go for a .012-.052 or .012-.050 for a next set.

Also, the extra windings on these will necessitate a bit of adjustment to the nut slots if I decide to stick with them. It is noticeable.

[Ttamsivart]

I seem to remember that the guy who established the company ( near Chesterfield, UK? ) could be the same guy, used to work with huge steel hausers ( is that the term ) and merely scaled down the product when he left? Or something like that. The
early ones ( we used them on certain Peerless models prior to distribution ) were not wound off conclusively, so important to bring to tension before clipping. Is that still the case?

Yeah, I think they used to be based out of the Clay Cross area. I think. They’re now in Tansley, just outside Matlock.

Not sure about the origins of the company (I had to Google ‘Hauser’) but I believe that Neil has been driving things there since about 2015 or so. I think…

And yes, the Newtone Archtop sets are round core (vice hex) so will need a kink before clipping.

[omphalopsychos]

I'm a big fan of Newtone. I order their strings in bulk from the UK. I like their archtop line as well as their nickel plated steel round core line. Their archtop line have a warmer tone and quicker decay. Not as tubby sounding as flatwounds, but definitely mellower than typical roundwounds. To me, they also have a very pleasant acoustic sound, again much warmer than the typical electric string sound.

I use the Newtone 12-52 set and I increase the trebles to 13 and 17. This is roughly similar to TI's Bebop 13.

Newtone Archtop

12 16 24w 32 42 52

Thomastik Bebop
13 17 21w 30 38 53

I tried TI bebop a few times and my conclusion is that I really dislike them, but this is only because the gauges make no sense to me or my fingers. Thomastik's strings all have the same problem: for a given gauge set, they tend to be too thin in the middle (G-A) and too heavy on the bass (E). Every time I've tried bebops, I wanted to love them, but they just feel wrong, the change in feel from string to string feels dramatically unbalanced. The G string especially feels way too thin. Additionally, Newtone Archtops have a nicer acoustic sound than the Bebops.

The Newtones are also much cheaper to get in the US. $13 a set vs $25 a set for the Thomastiks.

[sgosnell]

It has been several years since I last tried Newtones, so I may be out of date. I liked the strings when new, but they went dead rather quickly, so I wrote them off.

[omphalopsychos]

Been using them for 3 years now and never had a problem.

[wzpgsr]

There was a period of time—maybe early pandemic—when it was hard to get them in the US. If they are more widely available now I’ll probably but some. I liked them quite a bit.

[RJVB]

Neil is always extremely helpful, and will make you anything you want as long as he has the required ingredients. I discussed making me some brass-over-nickel double-wounds (acoustic-electric strings) which he can make but I haven't ordered yet as I haven't had need for the electric bit.
Sadly they don't make silk-and-steel strings.

[blackcat]

Yeah, I think they used to be based out of the Clay Cross area. I think. They’re now in Tansley, just outside Matlock.

Not sure about the origins of the company (I had to Google ‘Hauser’) but I believe that Neil has been driving things there since about 2015 or so. I think…

And yes, the Newtone Archtop sets are round core (vice hex) so will need a kink before clipping.

Got it - Malcolm ( founder ) learnt his trade as a miner: History – Newtone Strings Enterprising.

[ARGewirtz]

[QUOTE=omphalopsychos;1228774]I'm a big fan of Newtone. I order their strings in bulk from the UK.]

For those of us in the U.S. who are interested in Newtone strings, and particularly those in the NY/NJ area, Guitars 'n Jazz here in NJ carries Newtone strings. In fact, in addition to the Newtone branded strings that they sell their Guitars 'n Jazz branded strings are Newtone strings in a GnJ package.

Newtone AM-L Archtop Light 11-50

[omphalopsychos]

For those of us in the U.S. who are interested in Newtone strings, and particularly those in the NY/NJ area, Guitars 'n Jazz here in NJ carries Newtone strings. In fact, in addition to the Newtone branded strings that they sell their Guitars 'n Jazz branded strings are Newtone strings in a GnJ package.

Newtone AM-L Archtop Light 11-50

Interesting. They seem to be repackaged but possibly the exact same as the archtop strings? For some reason they’re described as phosphor bronze. Also they’re more expensive than importing from the UK.

[ARGewirtz]

Interesting. They seem to be repackaged but possibly the exact same as the archtop strings? For some reason they’re described as phosphor bronze. Also they’re more expensive than importing from the UK.

As far as I know they are the exact same as the archtop strings in the Newtone package, but would suggest that you check with GnJ to be sure.

Re cost of the strings, with the x-rate of the GBP to the US$ at its lowest rate in many years I'm not surprised that they would be cheaper in the UK, although I would think domestic shipping cost would be less than international. Anyway, just wanted to let folks know that the strings are available.