Anyone tried 'Newtone' strings?

[Plexi Ken]

Just put some Nickel Masters (Hex Core) .010 - .046 on my Baja Tele (sorry Roo), got them from Strings Direct.

Tone balance across the strings seems good as does the general quality. The strings came to pitch quickly and tuning stability seems improved. Initial tone is good without the over-brightness that I dislike with most new string. Now to see if they age well.

I'm all for supporting small UK business, so this might just be my new string of choice.

[MDV]

Well, my newtones should be waiting for me at home right now, or be there tomorrow.

We'll see how they fare.

[Will]

How long did they take to arrive MDV? I can't keep get the rusted Roto's in tune with my Kahler any more. Also waiting on some fecking SOB's... but... nevermind on that.

[MDV]

Tough to say. I ordered a custom set (well, 4) with the requiments of matching the tension of 36, 48, 64 with thinner strings (by having a thicker core) - the dude suggested 32, 42, 55 (or something round there) and said that they'd take "a couple of weeks because its development work" - its been about 3 weeks and I have no idea what it would have been if it werent "Development work", if thats not just smokescreening.

[Will]

I'll email. Both my guitars really need new strings. Thanks MDV

[Nolly]

Lead time is normally 21 days or thereabouts according to them.

[MDV]

Boooo! I almost dont want to like them; I'll have to plan string orders! Thats madness.

[Will]

Thank you for contacting us the longest you may have to wait is around 14 days. But we are always making these I don’t think there would be anything like that . We never have stock such is the demand but the upside of this is what you get is brand new not a few months old, as to payment card or pay pal is accepted . I await further instruction from you.

From Newtone. Not as bad as 3 weeks, but there is always postage delay

[MDV]

They're here.

Performance update to follow.

- they await further instructions? What is he, the string-bot?

[MDV]

Well, these are odd.

They sound a lot thicker in the mids and low mids than the Diadarrios, they have less chime in the highs, they're more saturated - I've had to drop my gain a bit -, they grip a pick more, the set I got is actually a bit slacker than the diadarios that I've been using, but not much (good guess Mr string man) and is in fact tighter sounding.

They have done what I wanted - put high end back in without losing low end (they have more, but its probably just from the extra energy from being slacker but hitting them as hard)

The plain strings are fatter and thicker too. I'm getting more definition in the middle notes in sweeps, where previously it was quite hard to get them to sound evenly with the legatos/picking flourishes on the first and last strings (as is my sweeping idiom), and the sound on all strings is much smoother (comparing to 2 week old but nearly unplayed diadarios on my dean).

Overall they did what I wanted to, but there were a lot of tonal surprises with them. They sound very different to any previous string I've used. Closest comparison is DR Tite fits, but they didnt have the depth in the low end or the smoothness and clarity in the highs. First impressions are very good indeed.   

I'll be upping the guages very slightly with my next order and getting more :)

[WezV]

oooh, hopefully mine will be here soon!! 

[MDV]

Oh thats the hex core nickel wound ones, btw. I got 4 sets of 12, 15, 20p, 32, 42, 55 - two round cored and two hex cored. Havent tried the round cored yet.

[Nolly]

Well, these are odd.

They sound a lot thicker in the mids and low mids than the Diadarrios, they have less chime in the highs, they're more saturated - I've had to drop my gain a bit -, they grip a pick more, the set I got is actually a bit slacker than the diadarios that I've been using, but not much (good guess Mr string man) and is in fact tighter sounding.

They have done what I wanted - put high end back in without losing low end (they have more, but its probably just from the extra energy from being slacker but hitting them as hard)

The plain strings are fatter and thicker too. I'm getting more definition in the middle notes in sweeps, where previously it was quite hard to get them to sound evenly with the legatos/picking flourishes on the first and last strings (as is my sweeping idiom), and the sound on all strings is much smoother (comparing to 2 week old but nearly unplayed diadarios on my dean).

Overall they did what I wanted to, but there were a lot of tonal surprises with them. They sound very different to any previous string I've used. Closest comparison is DR Tite fits, but they didnt have the depth in the low end or the smoothness and clarity in the highs. First impressions are very good indeed.   

I'll be upping the guages very slightly with my next order and getting more :)

Good to hear you're liking them

[MDV]

The rumours of Newtones customer service standards were not exagerated.

I got the 4 test sets, and while I like them a lot they need some refinment - I want just a bit more tension.

So I just called planning to make an order for a slightly higher set of guages on the wound strings, meeting their 6 order minimum figuring that given how much I like what I have, what I'm gonna get cant be too far off and I can probably live with any slight niggle in tension or tone or whatever and revise the next order accordingly.

But the dude on the phone, after I told him that I'd be meeting the 6 set min order, said he'd send out a single free set of 12 15 20 32 44 58 hex cored (I like the hex core sound best) to see if I liked them, and to go from there.

Between the improvment in tone, the flexibility in whats available and this level of service I do believe I've found my strings.

[WezV]

i have a parcel at the post office... i hope its these!!