Newtone classical strings?

[morgan]

I'm interested in trying out Newtone strings on my ~1905 howe orme mandolinetto, which is lightly constructed and for which I use bowlback-suitable strings. Newtone makes a light set (8-11-20-30) that does not seem to be available on this side of the pond, and a medium light set (9-12-22-35). 12th Fret carries the medium light and tells me they are suitable for bowlbacks.

I've used Dogal Calace RW92b Dolce (which I like) and GHS classical (which I don't) with no structural problems. GHS are 9-13-20-32; I can't find the specs on the Calace so I don't know how heavy I've gone with those.

I'm told that Newtones have less tension at pitch than most strings because they have a round, not hexagonal core.

Anyone have any experience with the Newtone medium lights, a comparison with the tensions of the Calaces, or advice/opinions as to whether they're likely to be structurally OK?

Thanks

[Bob A]

The light Calaces run 0.010, 0.014, 0.024, 0.035.

I have no tension info. Never heard of Newtones, but they look to be in the proper range.

[AW Meyer]

Newtone medium lights: 009-012-022-035.
lights: 008-011-020-030
Check with Mike: here

[Martin Jonas]

I've used both. The "light" set is truly ridiculously light, and I found it unusable even on an old bowback: simply not enough tension at pitch. The "medium light" has much the same gauges as, say, the Lenzner medium bronze. It sounds completely different, though. To my ear, the Lenzners are best for classical/Italian repertoire on bowlbacks and the Newtones for Irish/Scottish music -- I have my Mid-Mo strung with them.

I believe the Lenzners and the Calace dolce are much the same in terms of tension, so you'll probably be alright structurally. You'll have to see whether you like them tone-wise: they are certainly distinctive.

Martin

[morgan]

Thanks everybody. I'll give the medium lights a try.

[RSW]

I could not get the Newtone strings to intonate properly with my short (normal) or classical scale mandolins. They work beautifully on the long Gibson scale though.

[Jim Garber]

I know this is an old thread, but I recently read an article on hand-made strings and one thing it mentioned was the difference in strings wound on round cores. Evidently there are few makers that do this but Newtone is one. I mentioned on this recent thread that I could not find any source of their mandolin strings in the US, but that juststrings now will carry them. They are currently on order.

[Tavy]

Since this thread has been revived, just to say I'm a big fan of Newtone strings. In particular I like them on longer scale 'dola's and OM's. I also use Newtone nickel wound strings on bowlbacks. I started using them because I couldn't find a source for GHS ultra lights at the time, and I figured that the nickel wound strings would be closest to the strings that were used on these "back in the day" before PB (or flatwound!) strings became available. They certainly give a very pleasant and distinctive tone. That said, to modern ears, the GHS PB's probably sound "better" to some degree... I sort of vacillate between the two...

[Martin Jonas]

I also use Newtone nickel wound strings on bowlbacks. I started using them because I couldn't find a source for GHS ultra lights at the time, and I figured that the nickel wound strings would be closest to the strings that were used on these "back in the day" before PB (or flatwound!) strings became available.

I'm not sure about the 1890s, but in the 1920s at least they did use bright bronze wound strings on bowlbacks: Embergher sold own-brand strings by mail order throughout Europe, and according to Ralf Leenen at least, the modern strings that are closest to them are Optima Goldin strings, which are what I have on my Embergher. Goldin is a rather old-fashioned German jeweller's term meaning a gold-coloured type of brass, similar to 80/20 bright bronze, used mainly for costume jewellery. Nice strings, too!

Martin

[Richard Walz]

Ì could not get the Newtone strings to intonate correctly on the short scale (normal scale) classical mandolin. On the Gibson mandolin, no problem. Do these strings work for you on the Embergher?

[Martin Jonas]

Richard: My Embergher doesn't have Newtones on -- I use Optima Goldin. I tried the light Newtones on a shortscale flatback a few years ago but couldn't get them to work at all, as there wasn't enough tension. Tavy is the one who has Newtones on bowlbacks.

Martin

[Jim Garber]

Since this thread has been revived, just to say I'm a big fan of Newtone strings.

John, which gauges do you use on the vintage bowlbacks? From the posts here it sounds like the lightest may be too light and may have less tension than the equiv GHS.

[brunello97]

Thanks all for the update on the Newtones. I had an order in for some of the light gauge sets. Seems like a good idea to switch that to the MLs. Waiting to hear something more from John on these.

Mick

[Tavy]

Mick, Jim, I get my Newtones from Eagle Music who make up their own sets from Newtone singles, so what I use may not match what you can get your side of the pond... But I use their Nickel lights which are 10-36. I've also tried their PB's in the same gauges, but I got the impression that the tension was higher on those - so for PB's I would somewhere in between those and GHS ultra light gauges. One thing I like about Eagle Music BTW is they allow you to "pick your own" sets for the same price as a regular one: http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/detail...string-set.htm. If only they'd let you do that for their mandola / OM sets (where lets be honest there's much more variation in scale lengths and gauges required) then I'd be in heaven ;-) Hmmm, maybe I should suggest it....