Ultra light strings in the uk

[Seatosky]

I play a bowl back thats had a seriously broken neck (now professionally repaired)when i first got it.
Currently im using ghs A249 ultralight bronzes but im struggling to buy them in the uk from anywhere but amazon.
Does anyone know somewhere i can buy them from or failing that, a suitable alternative?

[Ray(T)]

Newtone will put together sets in whatever gauges you want. They're not particularly expensive, they don't charge ridiculous amounts to post them and they're made in the UK!

[Subreel]

Gear4Music is my go-to for stringed instruments, they usually have a massive selection so you should be able to find something ultra light. Or Newtone sounds good as Ray has mentioned.

[derbex]

I have bought those from Brown Dog Banjos in the past : http://www.browndogbanjos.co.uk/mandolin-strings-218-c.asp

[Tavy]

I use either Martin light bronze 10-34, or else get a custom gauge set from Eagle Music Shop: https://www.eaglemusicshop.com/prod/mandolin-strings/eagle-Puretone-pick-your-own-custom-mandolin-string-set.htm. Clifford Essex have an ultra light set as well, and are decent strings: http://www.cliffordessex.net/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=55

[Seatosky]

Cheers john, good to know, would hate to have to get you to fix it twice.
Thanks to everyone for the info and advice. Will have a good look at them all.

[Ray(T)]

The strings from Eagle music are interesting. The custom sets they used to put together were made by Newtone. I wonder if they still are?

The last/only time I ordered a custom set from Eagle was because they would supply a single set whereas the minimum direct from Newtone was six sets. They no longer have a minimum number.

- - - Updated - - -

The strings from Eagle music are interesting. The custom sets they used to put together were made by Newtone. I wonder if they still are?

The last/only time I ordered a custom set from Eagle was because they would supply a single set whereas the minimum direct from Newtone was six sets. They no longer have a minimum number.

[Tavy]

The strings from Eagle music are interesting. The custom sets they used to put together were made by Newtone. I wonder if they still are?

They've changed the name to "Puretone", and took me a couple of sets to notice that, so they seem to be OK wherever it is they actually come from now. I would assume they are no longer Newtone though - I do know they were forever running out of stock and having trouble getting replacements when they were advertised as Newtone so that might give you a clue. The Clifford Essex strings seem to be pretty decent too, again, I don't know who the ultimate maker is.

[Ray(T)]

I can understand that, Newtone have upped their game since Neil Silverman took over and they moved premises (out of Malcolm Newton's garage!). The only time I ordered a custom set of "Eagle" Newtones, which arrived within a few days, Newtone were taking up to three months to supply a minimum of six sets. You can now get a single custom set from them within one to two weeks.

Good luck with the weather down in the SW - we're currently snowed in on the Northumberland coast!

[OneChordTrick]

Last set that I bought from Newtone in January came within a few days.

Also snowbound I the Oxfordshire Highlands :)

[Beanzy]

Another set that comes up well for bowlbacks is the Savarez Argentine light set
http://www.savarez.fr/argentine-boucle-1540

Places like Hobgoblin etc sometimes have those in stock.

[derbex]

Another set that comes up well for bowlbacks is the Savarez Argentine light set
http://www.savarez.fr/argentine-boucle-1540

Places like Hobgoblin etc sometimes have those in stock.

I do like those, although I haven't tried them on a bowl back yet, I got mine from Stringbusters http://www.stringbusters.com/Ko-Bespoke/productlist.asp?cat=1/MANDOLIN/MANDOLIN%20SAVAREZ although some people have had problems with them lately.

Just to keep the thread on track (unlike the trains) it's snowy in Essex too.

[Seatosky]

Thanks, i’ll keep an eye out for them. Think i may have a bash with the martins as they seem to be relitively easy to obtain