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Post by malcolm on Aug 1, 2021 9:49:56 GMT
Hi Surfguy, as I said in my previous post, I use Heritage 12-51 on my 0028k authentic and they are great and suitable for that guitar as it is very lightly built with no truss rod. On my other guitars I mostly use Masterclass 12-54, so it's impossible to make a direct comparison. The total tension of the Heritage 12-51 set is 131 lbs, the Masterclass package doesn't state the overall tension (I've just checked) but perhaps it's on their website. Enjoy experimenting.
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Post by Onechordtrick on Aug 1, 2021 18:08:35 GMT
As an experiment I put some Martin Authentics on my, er, Martin because I thought they’d be able to make the rights strings for their guitar. To an extent they do; the tone was great, perhaps not quite what I’m looking for but not unpleasant but I didn’t like the feel. The higher tension than the Newtones didn’t help but they also felt a lot rougher, almost as if Newtone use a narrower wire for the wrap, and were noisier. I tried tuning down a tone and putting a capo on the second fret but it sounded too much like a sitar. Anyway they lasted less than a week and a set of Newtones went on and happiness is restored
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Post by surfguy13 on Aug 2, 2021 8:49:56 GMT
As an experiment I put some Martin Authentics on my, er, Martin because I thought they’d be able to make the rights strings for their guitar. To an extent they do; the tone was great, perhaps not quite what I’m looking for but not unpleasant but I didn’t like the feel. The higher tension than the Newtones didn’t help but they also felt a lot rougher, almost as if Newtone use a narrower wire for the wrap, and were noisier. I tried tuning down a tone and putting a capo on the second fret but it sounded too much like a sitar. Anyway they lasted less than a week and a set of Newtones went on and happiness is restored I think Martin strings are pretty good on the whole and the strings I've been using for some time are the Acoustic SP (MSP4150). These are phosphor/bronze and 12.5 - 55.5. I agree with your comments wholeheartedly; relative to the Newtone Heritage they feel quite crude. However, the weird thing is that the Heritage I have just installed are REALLY noisy and I have no idea why. Sliding up or down the neck there is an irritating squeal that I never had with the Martins. Like you, I found that the unwound Martin strings were very toppy and, as you say, a bit like a sitar! The Heritage strings are much warmer and feel almost as if they have a coating on them.....definitely smoother than most other acoustic strings I have used. Must be the way they are constructed. It's great to try other strings just to reinforce how good your strings actually are. I am finding that I can do so much more using the Heritage strings relative to the Martins due, I assume, to the lower tension. I have to say I still don't understand the concept of a low tension string but I won't overthink it, just enjoy!!
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Post by vikingblues on Aug 2, 2021 8:52:16 GMT
It's great to hear the experiment was a success! I agree very much with what you say about the warmth in the sound - I love it. I think that big change in the sound does make for a marmite style reaction from players that try them. But for some of us the practical aspect of low tension is key. This extra warmth is maybe why I find the Heritage not so well suited to all-mahogany guitars as the warmth in sound from the wood plus the warmth from the strings can be just a bit too much. It's interesting to read someone else's experience of first using them, as when it's a success like here, it reminds me of what I felt all those years back on my first try. The problems I have had with arthritic finger joints had been getting gradually worse for some time. But, there's been a real slowdown in the rate of that progression since I started using Heritage. I had anticipated not being able to play by now, like happened to my Dad who had to stop playing piano with joint pain. This was Gordon Giltrap's comments on the Heritage strings which guided me to trying them. "Anyone who has spent time playing the acoustic guitar will testify to the fact that string gauge and action can make all the difference in the world to how an instrument can respond. I have spent most of my playing life trying to get my guitars to play as easy as possible, and have spent many hours experimenting with different string gauges and coming to the conclusion that it really is a play off between tonality and playability, but at long last here is string that gives the player the best of both worlds. I have never been a 'muscular' player with the strength that some players are naturally born with, so for me these superb low tension strings are a God send, giving a great sound with a wonderful ease of playing. Enjoy the feel of an electric on your chosen acoustic and experience the difference."So I am very grateful to him for that as well as producing an affordable signature acoustic guitar through Vintage that I love playing. Mark
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Post by Onechordtrick on Aug 2, 2021 8:54:57 GMT
As an experiment I put some Martin Authentics on my, er, Martin because I thought they’d be able to make the rights strings for their guitar. To an extent they do; the tone was great, perhaps not quite what I’m looking for but not unpleasant but I didn’t like the feel. The higher tension than the Newtones didn’t help but they also felt a lot rougher, almost as if Newtone use a narrower wire for the wrap, and were noisier. I tried tuning down a tone and putting a capo on the second fret but it sounded too much like a sitar. Anyway they lasted less than a week and a set of Newtones went on and happiness is restored I think Martin strings are pretty good on the whole and the strings I've been using for some time are the Acoustic SP (MSP4150). These are phosphor/bronze and 12.5 - 55.5. I agree with your comments wholeheartedly; relative to the Newtone Heritage they feel quite crude. However, the weird thing is that the Heritage I have just installed are REALLY noisy and I have no idea why. Sliding up or down the neck there is an irritating squeal that I never had with the Martins. Like you, I found that the unwound Martin strings were very toppy and, as you say, a bit like a sitar! The Heritage strings are much warmer and feel almost as if they have a coating on them.....definitely smoother than most other acoustic strings I have used. Must be the way they are constructed. It's great to try other strings just to reinforce how good your strings actually are. I am finding that I can do so much more using the Heritage strings relative to the Martins due, I assume, to the lower tension. I have to say I still don't understand the concept of a low tension string but I won't overthink it, just enjoy!! To be fair to the Martin strings I should add that I normally play in DADGAD so when I downtuned the B and E were actually tuned to G and C so perhaps not surprising!
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 2, 2021 8:58:49 GMT
................ I have to say I still don't understand the concept of a low tension string but I won't overthink it, just enjoy!! The tension of a wound string at a given pitch is determined by the gauge of the core wire. The Heritage series strings, when compared eg to the Masterclass series, have thinner cores to reduce the tension and thicker windings to maintain the overall gauge. Alsohe round core wires on most Newtones allow the winding wraps to move very slightly in relation to the core - most other strings are hex core and the windings frip the core more firmly. Hence round core strings are more flexible and tend to feel easier to play irrespective of tension. But, yes, as you rightly say, don't overthink! Keith PS - I often find that most Newtones don't suffer from the "new strings" brashness that afflicts most strings. Quite the reverse in fact - often they sound lifeless when first put on, and they improve over a day or three. Or with a few minutes thrashy strummage. K
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Post by surfguy13 on Aug 2, 2021 9:06:37 GMT
Hi Surfguy, as I said in my previous post, I use Heritage 12-51 on my 0028k authentic and they are great and suitable for that guitar as it is very lightly built with no truss rod. On my other guitars I mostly use Masterclass 12-54, so it's impossible to make a direct comparison. The total tension of the Heritage 12-51 set is 131 lbs, the Masterclass package doesn't state the overall tension (I've just checked) but perhaps it's on their website. Enjoy experimenting. One of the reasons I decided to try the lower tension strings was because the OM I am using them on has a very thin top, apparently, and the previous owner told me that TAMCO (who supplied the guitar) had suggested using a lighter string. However, the guitar seemed to handle the 12.5 to 55.5 OK but the Heritage strings sound and feel so much better. I couldn't find any info on the poundage of the Masterclass strings on the website but I'm guessing that they're somewhere between the Heritage and a 'standard' string. It will be interesting to try them relative to the Heritage strings, it's quite possible I'll prefer them. Don't know about you but I prefer a slightly chunkier string from the point of view of feel but that's maybe just because I'm used to them. After a week with the Heritage strings I am genuinely convinced and the sound relative to the gauge is mind boggling!
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Post by surfguy13 on Aug 2, 2021 9:28:07 GMT
It's great to hear the experiment was a success! I agree very much with what you say about the warmth in the sound - I love it. I think that big change in the sound does make for a marmite style reaction from players that try them. But for some of us the practical aspect of low tension is key. This extra warmth is maybe why I find the Heritage not so well suited to all-mahogany guitars as the warmth in sound from the wood plus the warmth from the strings can be just a bit too much. It's interesting to read someone else's experience of first using them, as when it's a success like here, it reminds me of what I felt all those years back on my first try. The problems I have had with arthritic finger joints had been getting gradually worse for some time. But, there's been a real slowdown in the rate of that progression since I started using Heritage. I had anticipated not being able to play by now, like happened to my Dad who had to stop playing piano with joint pain. This was Gordon Giltrap's comments on the Heritage strings which guided me to trying them. "Anyone who has spent time playing the acoustic guitar will testify to the fact that string gauge and action can make all the difference in the world to how an instrument can respond. I have spent most of my playing life trying to get my guitars to play as easy as possible, and have spent many hours experimenting with different string gauges and coming to the conclusion that it really is a play off between tonality and playability, but at long last here is string that gives the player the best of both worlds. I have never been a 'muscular' player with the strength that some players are naturally born with, so for me these superb low tension strings are a God send, giving a great sound with a wonderful ease of playing. Enjoy the feel of an electric on your chosen acoustic and experience the difference."So I am very grateful to him for that as well as producing an affordable signature acoustic guitar through Vintage that I love playing. Mark Yes, when I first put the Heritage strings on the guitar your words were ringing in my ears and I was wondering whether my spruce/mahogany OM would be a little less dynamic. I was really surprised how warm the strings were but without much if any loss in the upper frequencies. The Heritage are VERY different to a standard phosphor bronze string, and there are some aspects of a standard string that I love, but on balance the Heritage wins out. However, I think the Heritage would be so well suited to spruce/rosewood as the warmth of the strings might just calm the trebles down a little. I love rosewood/spruce but sometimes the unwound strings can be a little forceful. I'm really pleased to hear that your arthritis is less prominent with the low tension strings. The joints on my right hand are very lumpy and quite painful, much more so than my left hand, so if these strings help that will be a huge bonus. Gordon Giltrap's comments echo my very brief experiences with low tension strings; the OM really does feel like an electric and to an extent that's what I am finding a bit strange at the moment but after a few months I am sure there will be no going back! If you can get a great sound from a 12-51 string without any loss in upper of lower frequencies, amazing playability and less strain on your hands then..................!!
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