Newtone strings

Ken Bloom

I just tried a set of Newtone Gitane strings on my guitar with excellent results. Great tone and they lasted weeks. I was wondering if anyone on the list knows the difference between the Gitane and Django Newtone strings. Both versions are nickel wound and the gauges are the same. Is the difference just packaging?

Heretic

Good question! It's certainly baffling as the description and gauges are the same. I like these strings as well, but have had continued problems with the bass E strings sounding dead. Some of them can be made right by John LeVoi's method of twisting the ball end many times to re-tighten the windings. The Newtone strings have a great feel, sound, longevity; but I've been plagued with about 50% of my bass E strings needing to be twisted tight.
Has any one had experience regarding not cutting the strings versus cutting the strings prior to winding them onto the tuner posts, as Wayne mentioned?

pmh425

I use the Newtone Gitane strings. When I inquired what the differences were, this is the response I got from Newtone:

"The difference is in the Core-to-Wrap ratios we use with the two sets
giving a slight variation in feel and tone."



-Peter

Ken Bloom

Interesting.So one uses a thicker core and a thinner wrap as opposed to a thinner core and a thicker wrap. Now we just have to find out which is which and what that difference yields. I just ordered four sets from Michael and gave him the option of making one of those sets a "Django" set. I guess I can test it out myself and see what the difference is. It may or may not be relevent to others since my guitar is not really standard. Still, I may be able to report back something concrete

just the bassplayer

I just received a reply from Newtone strings regarding whether they should not be cut prior to tuning them up:

Newtone Strings - Specialists in Hand Wound Custom Music Strings
www.newtonestrings.com


Our strings which are made on round cores, including the Gitane, require
the strings to be on the instrument and tuned to pitch before cutting.
We are currently re-designing the Gitane packet to include a warning
about this. We try to make our distributors aware of this fact, and to
tell there customers, but it will be much easier with a waring on the
packet it's self.
Best regards,
Neil Silverman


I guess that rather clears things up. My guess is that the same principle should apply to Argentine strings since they have round cores as well.

Michael Hayes

sockeye

From the Newtone website, looks like they're going to be doing a copper/silver wound string:

The Gitane & Django strings are designed with the bright jazz sound in mind. The Gitane are a Nickel wound string on Round cores, while the Django are either Nickel (DJS-L) or soon to be Silver Plated Copper (DJS-S). Although they were designed with this style of instrument and style of playing in mind, they suit any standard guitar if you are looking for a bright sounding, low tension set.

MichaelHorowitz

Yes...they told me that recently. We hope to have some soon!

'm

Ken Bloom

Hi guys,

Well, I got my four sets of strings. Thanks Michael for the great service. I took my Mitutoyu dial calipers and carefull measured the cores of the wound strings and compared the Django set with the Gitane set. The E, D, and G strings measured exactly the same. I did this twice to make sure I did it right. The A string in the Gitane set measured .014. The Django A string measured .015.
I haven't had a chance to put them on yet but I don't expect much difference. It would seem the difference in the two sets is the packaging unless there is some difference in the nickel wire used for the wrappings. That being said, let me just comment that, on my guitar, the Newtones lasted MUCH longer. When I finally wore through the winding on the G string, the others still sounded great and were playing in tune. More important to me, the tone was excellent and matched the tone of the Rotosound bass string I'm using for my seventh string.
The other plus is that the problem I was having with one very dead note (C as on the second string first fret) is greatly diminshed using the Newtone strings. I'll be putting the new strings on later today. If I notice any difference between the Djangos and the Gitanes I'll let you know. YMMV.

sockeye

Ken, does it seem like both sets have round cores? Probably the easiest way to tell is to hold the string at one end and rotate it between two fingers. Round core strings will just kind of dangle as you rotate them. Hex core strings will kind of rise up in the air as you rotate them, then sag down again after about 60 degrees of rotation. I kind of got the impression from something on the Newtone site that the Gitane sets have round cores and the Djangos, hex cores.

John

Ken Bloom

Hi John,

I gave both your twirl test. Both reacted in exactly the same way. So far, the only difference seems to be packaging. I find the Django graphics more engaging than the Gitane. True, the roulotte on the Gitane label is intriquing but I still find myself more drawn to the image of three well dressed guitar players. YMMV.

Ken