Newtone Heritage Low Tension Strings

I got a set of the Newtone Heritage strings 4 days ago. 12s. Not that easy to find them in stock anywhere (in and out of stock very quickly at Strings Direct) and although it is possible to buy them direct from Newtone I see their site mentions a month long waiting time is likely due to demand.

I've put them on the Super Folk size Tanglewood TW45 as this was my acoustic that is longer scale and more inclined to give my left hand fingers pain (I'm also reluctant to change anything on the TW73 Parlour as I like what it does so much). The strings say 131 lbs total tension with 21-22 lbs each string, evenly spread. Compares to about 160 lbs total for D'Addario EXP11 or EJ16 sets where individual string tension varies from 23 to 30 lbs.

I have almost exclusively used D'Addarios for all my acoustic and electric instruments for the last 6-7 years so I was a bit hesitant about a change. The main reason for this purchase is to try to find strings that are kinder to my left hand finger joints. It is looking promising after some longish session over the last few days. The strings have been fine on intonation and do not feel horribly floppy and I've had no issues with them bending a bit when fretted.

The sound is different for sure compared to the old D'Addarios. I did some quick and clunky recordings full of clams both before and after changing the strings the night I got them - I was eager to try them so the recording process was all a bit rushed and not my best I'm afraid! I've linked a wav file version on Box.com which hopefully shows the differences reasonably well.

:guitar1:Newtone Heritage v D'Addarios TW45

There's 5 sections on the recording - all have the D'Addario first, then the Newtones.

In standard tuning:-
1. A sequence of chords down near the nut - lower register.
2. Some chords with accidentals on the higher strings ("You Don't Know My Mind").
Then in DADGAD:-
3. Fingerstyle - part of "Roslin Castle".
4. Fingerstyle - part of "The Travellers Tale" (Mark Thomson) which I'm currently trying to learn (with difficulty!).
5. Finally, more chordal - some variations of chords to bring out the DADGAD resonances.

I think the Newtone strings suit the fingerstyle samples better - they bring a darker tone to the Celtic sounds - while the chordal stuff does loses a bit of zing and is maybe a bit muffled - or maybe the D'Addarios are too zingy? Certainly the balance between the different registers is different on chords with the two sets of strings. No problem with sustain on the Newtones despite less "zing". In any case I wasn't looking for improvement in tone, just more comfort, and if that means a bit of a change to the sound that isn't negative I'm fine with that.

I have in any case been finding the TW45 with the D'Addarios to have rather more of a metallic edge and sheen on the upper registers than I like since I got my TW73. The Newtones seem to have taken a lot of that edge off, while still leaving the TW45 very different in sound to the TW73. So I'm a happy bunny!
Hope this might be of help / interest to some of you. Certainly worth a try for those with older twingy fingers.

I see there are other types of Newtone strings, but there's rather less information about them on their website. I noticed mention of Newtone Masterclass strings on some of the recordings by Keith on his Butterfly project. I'm assuming these are more normal tension and thinking maybe worth having a try with a set of these next time I need new strings on the TW73 Parlour.

Mark