John Pearse Strings vs Newtone Strings

Premier Sponsors

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our privacy policy which includes details of cookie usage. Hide this notice

Weissenborn Players

Join This Group

This group is dedicated to the Weissenborn players around the world.

179 Members, Created 2/15/2011 -

Administrators: Grizz (owner)

< Back to Home

From CaseyHunter on 5/17/2013 8:17:45 AM

Does anyone have much experience with both the Newtone Hawaiian Strings and the John Pearse Weissenborn strings?

I have primarily used the Newtone and the EJ42's on my weissenborns. They work really well on the Superior, but I am not in love with the sound of either on the Bear Creek. The Newtones just don't seem to be heavy enough to get the best sound out of the Bear Creek. They almost feel too elastic, which I guess is because of the hollow core.

I am intrigued by the John Pearse Weissenborn strings and wondered if anyone could share their experience with them? How long do they last compared to the Newtones? Do they make much of a difference in tone? Especially if I used the 3150's which are a heavier gauge string?

Newtone Hawaiian Guitar Strings

.015,.017,.026,.036,.046,.056

John Pearse 3150H "D" Tuning Heavy Strings

017, .022, .027, .045, .054, .068

11 Comments
	Fabien says: 5/17/2013 8:31:26 AM I don't know the Newtone strings but i tried the John Pearse and they work well on my teardrop! Warm and clear sound and they are quite resistants. I recently tried the DR ones on a Kona and it was a good surprise. Great sustain, beautiful basses, and quite powerful! Sorry I don't really answer your question as you were waiting for a comparaison!
	bahilton says: 5/17/2013 9:16:48 AM I had newtones on my original 1926, for fear of too much tension. Nice sound, but too springy, no push-back when you want to dig in. My Lazy River has JPs, and I LOVE them. Rance actually recommends a G tuning gauge set for D tuning. It's all I've tried, but it ain't broke, so...
	Tom_Noe says: 5/17/2013 10:20:43 AM I have been using John Pearse 3130HBs for D tuning on Weissenborn guitars and they are great! The gauges are .015, .018,, .027W, .036, .042, .052 designed for Open G High Bass
	Seabass says: 5/17/2013 12:06:27 PM Tom, do you use those on your original Weissenborns or on Weissenborn copies? I use d'addario Phosphor bronze lights on my original weissenborn and I'm too afraid to use heavier strings.... I really like the d'addario Phosphor bronze strings. On a Weissenborn copy I used the John Pearse Weissenborn strings for a while. I felt the clear sound which was there at the beginning didn't last very long and I put new strings on every 3-4 weeks.I also noticed the color of the strings changed quite quickly in the areas where I played a lot.
	Tom_Noe says: 5/17/2013 1:15:06 PM I put them on a recently purchased Italian Madonna, which is a factory-spec Weissenborn Style 1 from about 1921 or 1922, tuned to Open D.
	Tom_Noe says: 5/17/2013 1:21:11 PM I put them on a recently purchased Italian Madonna, which is a factory-spec Weissenborn Style 1 from about 1921 or 1922, tuned to Open D. I have used Newtones on other original Weissenborns, but these JPs have a little more punch.
	Seabass says: 5/17/2013 2:44:25 PM Very interesting to hear. As mentioned above, I'm too afraid to use heavy gauge strings on my weiss, I just fear it's too much tension...aren't you afraid of that? Congrats to the new aquisition of one of those very rare Italian Madonnas by the way :)
	CaseyHunter says: 5/17/2013 3:35:55 PM Thanks guys...I would have never have thought to use the G tuning strings.. May have to get some to do a comparison.
	Tom_Noe says: 5/17/2013 3:39:15 PM Remember, the original Weissenborns were designed for A Major tuning, and they used to double the first string. If you keep the string tension to around 165 pounds or less, you will be okay if the guitar is in good condition. There are online string tension calculators you can use. The JB 3130HBs tuned to Open D result in 168 pounds overall string tension, a little over the 165 pound limit but within reason. I know of only 8 Madonnas--3 very early spruce-topped Style 2s and 5 early 20s Style 1s. The Madonnas were manufactured for Christophe's Dept. Store in San Fran beginning 1914 or 1916. The label was intended for mandolins Christophe's sold, and in 1922 when Christophe's added ukuleles to their line, they changed their label to Maui. And I know of only 4 Mauis. There are probably more around, they just don't come up that often.
x says: 5/17/2013 8:21:51 PM Great info everyone, thanks! I've been using the Pearse 3120 set on my Goldtone since I got it three years ago or so. Like `em! Low G tuning. I have a set of Newtone "Aloha" Hawaiians, but haven't put them on yet. I have recently been using EXP coated strings on my high C-tuned instrument, and have been enjoying their darker tone on that one. Phosphor Bronze are a little too bright, though the extra sparkle is pretty nice. Now if I could only figure out how to use a wound third on it, I'd be a very happy man.... weezy
	Liz Williams says: 5/17/2013 11:57:30 PM I have a Pearse 3150 heavy set on my Bear Creek and it's a match made in heaven. You could always email Bill Hardin if you've got a concern about the tension. I've never loved the sound of the Alohas, although I use them on my Oahus.
Post a Comment
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.

Forum Post: Which string gauge to use for 8 string Weissenborn ? Linked by KoloradoReso 9 months ago
	Jack Stepick Built 7- string Kona style Weissenborn Guitar, DADF# ADB Tuning Linked by jacknj 6 years ago
	Jack Stepick Kona Style Ash Weissenborn Linked by jacknj 6 years ago
	Jack Stepick Laminate/Solid Kona style Weissenborn Demo 06 30 2020 Linked by jacknj 6 years ago
	Wild Mountain Thyme - for Weissenborn - Open D Tuning (DADF#AD) Linked by LessonsWithTroy 6 years ago
	Jack Stepick Hand Built Weissenborn Style Guitar Linked by jacknj 6 years ago
	Kona dual height nut Linked by jacknj 6 years ago: Dual height adjustable nut on the Kona
	Kona style Weissenborn Linked by jacknj 6 years ago
	Custom Jack Stepick 8-String Weissenborn Style Guitar Linked by jacknj 7 years ago
	Custom 6-String Weissenborn Style Acoustic Steel Guitar Linked by jacknj 7 years ago