Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings

Subject: Opinions on Newtone Strings
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 06 Mar 02 - 10:43 PM

I have heard some good things about Newtone Strings. I want to buy a few sets of Banjo strings. Has anyone tried these, and if so, what are your thoughts?

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: mooman
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 03:28 AM

I have used a few sets (not on banjo but on octave mandola where they were fitted by the maker as standard) and found them good quality and also very reasonable in price. A big plus is they will make up custom gauge sets for you if you have special requirements.

Best regards,

mooman

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Charcloth
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 08:13 AM

where can you order these in the USA?

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 08:21 AM

Here is what The Twelfth Fret has to say about them.

Three years ago we were fortunate to discover this small British string making firm. Newtone sent us a few samples and we were in love! We are convinced that they are the finest strings made! Malcolm Newton is the owner and head craftsman at Newtone strings. He is an ex-coal miner, ex-lineman, and spent many years as a wire rope and heavy cable maker. He recently left the industry and found his metier when he began to make strings in the late 80's.

Newtone strings are a truly hand-made string, built one at a time to Malcolm Newton's exacting standards. Newtone strings are consistently true and balanced and use only top quality Phosphor Bronze and pure Nickel windings on tin plated round steel cores. The high quality round core construction results in a full round tone with noticeably lower tension than other strings. Most of our professional session recording customers have switched to Master Class Phosphor Bronze acoustic strings. Mass produced guitar strings use a hexagonal core. This hex core improves the bond between the bronze or nickel winding and the center core of the string so it will ring true. Unfortunately, tiny cavities inside the string between the wrap and the core allow moisture and dirt to accumulate which soon deadens the string. Hex-core strings also have a stiffer feel and slightly higher tension compared to round-core construction. The "Plain" Truth

In my experience as a guitar player and a luthier/co-owner of the Twelfth Fret, I've found that all plain strings are the same no matter what brand I tried. Though some differences show up in the wound strings, the plain E, B and G strings are all the same. But Newtone plain strings are different! The plains are smoother and intonate more accurately. The extra heavy top grade tin plating gives a nicer feel and longer life.

Grant MacNeill (pres. Twelfth Fret Inc.)

Apparently you can get them in the U.S. at:

Click here

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Justa Picker
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 11:31 AM

You can also e-mail Malcolm Newton direct and discuss specifics, custom sets, etc. and have him ship directly to you at: [e-mail].

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:35 PM

JP,

Do you use his guitar strings?

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Justa Picker
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:43 PM

Nothing but.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 12:44 PM

Thanks JP.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 08 Sep 02 - 12:44 AM

I bought a few different brands to find which ones sounded best on my "new" banjo. I just took the Newtones off and replaced them with Vegas. Before the Newtones I had tried the Gibson Earl Scruggs (my least favourite, sounded dead from the get go, maybe a bad set) Dean Markleys, and one other that I can't remember right now. I have a set of D'Addarios to try after the Vegas. I didn't think that different brands would make much difference, but there is no doubt that the Newtones sounded better. They were also the longest lasting of any I've tried. All of the strings that I tried were roughly the same gauge.

Unless the D'Addarios really do something for me it's nothing but Newtones for me from now on. Rick Fielding has played my banjo twice. The last time he commented that it sounded much better than the first time. I had tighthened the head and adjusted the action a bit since the first time he tried it, but I believe the main difference was that the second time it had the Newtones on. ris

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 08 Sep 02 - 05:17 PM

I use Newtones on my guitar and bouzouki. I admit that it is partly buying British but they seem to have a softer feel,which allows me to go up a gauge.Mister Newton is a very helpful chap as well.

Subject: RE: Opinions on Newtone Banjo Strings
From: X
Date: 08 Sep 02 - 05:27 PM

I guess I'm on the "Newtone" bandwagon. I put a set on my RB-12 and a set on my RB-250. Wonderful tone and feel, I think I'll use them from now on.