juliant
C.O.G.
Posts: 323
My main instrument is: Lowden L23
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Post by juliant on Oct 12, 2021 20:32:30 GMT
I came across these in my search for good low-tension strings, and thought I'd give them a go, so there's now a set on the Hiscox 6-string.
TL; DR: they sound good, but are waaaaay too expensive unless they last for ages.
I've used coated strings in the past and haven't really been sold on them, and didn't realize that these were coated until I read a review, so it's obviously subtle. The tension is indeed on the low side - not quite as low as Newtones or silk-and-steel, but acceptable to my hands.
A couple of days in and they sound really nice. Mister Tin Ears here is no better at describing sound qualities than he is with wine, but these sound very even across the strings with a resonant piano-like quality. Rather nice for flowing Celtic stuff, but maybe a little too refined for ragtime.
But seventeen quid a set? They'd better keep going for a while!
(So I've now tried these, Newtones and some Martin silk-and-steel, and I think the Martins are winning, balancing cost, sound and playability)
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douglas
Strummer
Three chords and the truth.
Posts: 47
My main instrument is: ... the next one.
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Post by douglas on Oct 13, 2021 9:27:09 GMT
Which Newtones are you using? I got my first set (recommended to me by a forum member here) - Master Class 12-54s and I really like them but I wouldn't say light on the hand. Against my usual D'Addarios the Newtones sound almost as bright but noticably better in the mids, can get a nice round fullness out of the trebles and the basses are quite ringy, warm, bell-like good. And as for 17 quid - I think my first guitar cost less than that. A while back but even so.
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brianr2
C.O.G.
Posts: 3,047
My main instrument is: Brook Lyn guitar
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Post by brianr2 on Oct 13, 2021 9:39:54 GMT
Which Newtones are you using? I got my first set (recommended to me by a forum member here) - Master Class 12-54s and I really like them but I wouldn't say light on the hand. Against my usual D'Addarios the Newtones sound almost as bright but noticably better in the mids, can get a nice round fullness out of the trebles and the basses are quite ringy, warm, bell-like good. And as for 17 quid - I think my first guitar cost less than that. A while back but even so. Newtone Heritage string are low tension. They are well worth a try.
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juliant
C.O.G.
Posts: 323
My main instrument is: Lowden L23
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Post by juliant on Oct 13, 2021 20:38:00 GMT
Which Newtones are you using? I got my first set (recommended to me by a forum member here) - Master Class 12-54s and I really like them but I wouldn't say light on the hand. Against my usual D'Addarios the Newtones sound almost as bright but noticably better in the mids, can get a nice round fullness out of the trebles and the basses are quite ringy, warm, bell-like good. And as for 17 quid - I think my first guitar cost less than that. A while back but even so. Newtone Heritage string are low tension. They are well worth a try. Yes, those are the ones I'm using
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Post by hughesy on Oct 18, 2021 14:28:10 GMT
I tried a set of the low tension Santa Cruz strings a while back and also thought they sounded good. I also found they did last a lot longer than uncoated strings, at least for me. Tension wise, if my memory is right, I recall that the plain strings felt to me like 11 and 15 gauge. 3-5 felt maybe a little lower tension than normal 12s/lights and string 6 was a bit chunkier than a normal 53. So overall, the tension felt different to me and I quite liked that. The whole "parabolic" thing is a load of nonsense though! I reckon if you ordered custom Newtones with something like 11, 15, 23, 31, 41, 55 you would probably get a similar feel.
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