You are here: Home  >  Banjos & Mandolins  >  Newtone Strings Showroom
Call us free in the UK  →  0800 043 1022

Banjos & Mandolins

Newtone Strings

Made by Malcolm Newton in Derbyshire, England, Newtone strings are one of the world's most experienced makers of custom strings for a wide variety of instruments, styles and specialist situations. If you have a string problem, or special requirement, Malcolm can sort it!

With the majority of machine-made strings, the wound strings are manufactured using a hexagonal core. Handmade Newtone strings use a round core; this has the effect of making the string feel more flexible at the equivalent gauge.

Below is a non-exhaustive guide to the Newtone Strings Catalogue - if you can't find exactly what you're looking for on our site, please contact us with your requirements.

On this page:

Other relevant pages:

N.B. All string gauges are given in thousandths of an inch - a metric conversion chart is provided at the bottom of the page for those who prefer millimetres.

Acoustic Guitar Strings

String sets in the 'Sheehans Stock' section below can be purchased online from our String Centre. For 'Special Order Only' items, please contact us for up to date information on price / availability.

Custom gauges, including drop D and drop C sets, are available on request. 'Master Class' and 'Michael Messer Nationals' are also available as nickel wound sets.

Sheehans Stock

Master Class Strings Master Class

Acoustic guitar strings, phosphor bronze wound

Newtone Master Class Acoustic Guitar Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
U-Light .009 .011 .016 .024w .032w .042w
E-Light .010 .012 .018w .026w .036w .046w
Light .011 .015 .022w .030w .040w .050w
M-Light .012 .016 .024w .032w .042w .052w
Custom* .012 .016 .024w .034w .044w .054w
B/Grass* .012 .016 .025w .036w .046w .056w
Medium .013 .017 .026w .036w .046w .056w

Gauges marked * are available as special order only - please contact us for price / availability

Michael Messer Nationals Strings Michael Messer Nationals

Phosphor bronze wound National guitar strings

Newtone Michael Messer National Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
M-Light .013 .017 .026w .036w .046w .056w
Medium .016 .017 .026w .036w .046w .056w
Heavy .016 .018 .027w .039w .049w .059w

Aloha Hawaiian Guitar Strings Aloha Hawaiian Guitar Strings

Designed for wooden bodied Hawaiian guitars with a hollow neck, these strings have a lower tension than normal when tuned to pitch

Newtone Aloha Hawaiian Guitar Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set D B G D B G
Aloha .015 .017 .026w .036w .046w .056w

Special Order Only

Master Class Strings with nickel 3rd Master Class (Nickel 3rd)

Phosphor Bronze strings with a (brighter sounding) Nickel wound 3rd string

Newtone Master Class Acoustic Guitar Strings (Nickel 3rd) - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
U-Light .009 .011 .016 .024w .032w .042w
E-Light .010 .012 .018w .026w .036w .046w
Light .011 .015 .022w .030w .040w .050w
M-Light .012 .016 .024w .032w .042w .052w
Medium .013 .017 .026w .036w .046w .056w

Resophonic Resonator Guitar Strings Resophonic Series

For resonator guitars with a spider bridge set-up

Newtone Resophonic Series Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
Light .015 .018 .022 .032w .044w .056w
Medium .015 .018 .028w .038w .048w .058w
'G' .016 .018 .028w .038w .050w .060w

Newtone Archtop Custom Jazz guitar strings Archtop Jazz

Strings for archtop guitars - the D, A and E strings are double wound to give a smoother tone, available in either phosphor bronze or nickel

Newtone Archtop Jazz Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
Light .011 .015 .022w .030w .040w .050w
M-Light* .012 .016 .024w .032w .042w .052w
Mediu* .013 .017 .026w .036w .046w .056w
Heavy .014 .018 .028w .038w .048w .058w

*Also available in 7-string sets with B-string gauges .075 and .085 respectively

Gitane / Django Jazz Strings Gitane / Django Jazz

For Maccaferri style oval and D hole jazz guitars, available in either phosphor bronze or nickel.

Newtone Gitane / Django Jazz Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
Gitane Light .011 .015 .020w .028w .036w .046w
Django Light .011 .015 .022w .030w .040w .050w

Shop online for Newtone strings at our string centre.

[Top of Page]

Electric Guitar Strings

The following sets are available as special order only - please contact us for latest prices / availability.

Nickel Masters Strings Nickel Masters

Electric guitar strings, nickel wound

Newtone Nickel Masters Electric Guitar Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
U-Light .008 .010 .015 .022w .030w .038w
E-Light .009 .011 .016 .024w .032w .042w
Custom .010 .012 .016 .024w .034w .044w
Light .010 .013 .017 .026w .036w .046w
M-Light .011 .014 .017 .032w .042w .052w
Medium .012 .016 .024w .032w .042w .052w

Nickel Masters Strings Nickel Masters (Hybrid Gauges)

As standard nickel masters above, but with lighter treble and heavier bass strings

Newtone Nickel Masters Electric Guitar Strings (Hybrid Gauges) - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
U-Light .008 .010 .015 .024w .032w .042w
E-Light .009 .011 .016 .026w .036w .046w
Light .010 .013 .017 .029w .039w .049w

Michael Messer Electric Slide Classics Slide Classics

For electric slide players - light Gauge recommended for open D and G tunings, heavy gauge for E and A tunings.

Newtone Slide Classics Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
Light .013 .015 .022 .032w .042w .052w
Heavy .015 .017 .026w .036w .046w .056w

STainless Steel Masters Stainless Steel Masters

Electric guitar strings, stainless steel wound

Newtone Stainless Steel Masters Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
U-Light .009 .011 .016 .024w .030w .038w
E-Light .010 .013 .017 .026w .036w .046w
M-Light .011 .015 .022w .030w .036w .046w
Medium .012 .016 .024w .032w .042w .052w

EBG 1/2 sets E.B.G. ½ Sets

The three treble strings from Newtone's 'nickel masters' sets

Newtone E.B.G. ½ Sets Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E B G D A E
U-Light .008 .010 .015  -   -   - 
E-Light .009 .011 .016  -   -   - 
Light .010 .013 .017  -   -   - 

Shop online for Newtone strings at our string centre.

[Top of Page]

Bass Guitar Strings

String sets in the 'Sheehans Stock' section can be purchased online from our String Centre. For 'Special Order Only' items, please contact us for up to date information on price / availability. Custom gauges, including drop D and drop C sets, are available on request

Sheehans Stock

Acoustic Bass Strings Acoustic Bass Strings

Phosphor Bronze wound bass strings

Newtone Acoustic Bass Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set G D A E
U-Light .038 .055 .072 .092
E-Light .042 .060 .075 .096
Light .040 .060 .080 .100
M-Light .046 .065 .080 .105
Medium .050 .070 .085 .100

Special Order Only

Diamond Bass Strings Diamond Series Bass Strings

Designed with live performance in mind, these strings are long lived and have excellent sustain

Newtone Diamond Series Bass Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set C G D A E B
U-Light   .038 .055 .072 .092  
Light   .040 .060 .080 .100  
Medium   .050 .070 .085 .100  
5str E-Light   .042 .060 .075 .096 .125
5str M-Light   .046 .065 .080 .105 .130
6str Light .034 .042 .060 .075 .096 .125
6str M-Light .038 .046 .065 .080 .105 .130

Platinum Bass Strings Platinum Series Bass Strings

Designed specifically for studio work - with less squeal, and a , true fundamental note, meaning less compression is needed for recording

Newtone Platinum Series Bass Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set C G D A E B
Ultra-Light   .038 .055 .072 .092  
Light   .040 .060 .080 .100  
Medium   .050 .070 .085 .100  
5str E-Light   .042 .060 .075 .096 .125
5str M-Light   .046 .065 .080 .100 .130
6str Light .034 .042 .060 .075 .096 .125
6str M-Light .038 .046 .065 .080 .105 .130

8-String Bass Strings

For 8-string bass

Newtone 8-String Bass Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set G D A E
Extra-Light .046
.020		 .065
.030		 .080
.036		 .105
.046

Shop online for Newtone strings at our string centre.

[Top of Page]

Mandolin Family Strings

Phosphor bronze wound versions of the sets below can be ordered online through our String Centre. Nickel wound sets are available as special order items - please contact us for up to date information on price / availability

Newtone Mandolin Strings Newtone Mandolin

Newtone Mandolin Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E (×2) A (×2) D (×2) G (×2)
Light .008 .011 .020w .030w
Med-Light .009 .012 .022w .035w
Medium .010 .013 .024w .037w
Heavy .011 .014 .026w .039w

Newtone Mandola Strings Newtone Mandola

Newtone Mandola Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set A (×2) D (×2) G (×2) C (×2)
Light .011 .014 .026w .038w
Medium .012 .016 .036w .042w
Heavy .012 .020w .034w .044w

Newtone Mando Cello Strings Newtone Mando-Cello

Newtone Mando-Cello Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set A (×2) D (×2) G (×2) C (×2)
Light .012 .016 .034w .046w
Medium .013 .018w .028w .048w

Newtone Bouzouki Strings Newtone Bouzouki

Standard tuning

Newtone Bouzouki Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E (×2) A (×2) D (×2) G (×2)
Light .010 .014 .022w .038w
Medium .011 .015 .026w .040w
Heavy .011 .018w .030w .042w

Octave / Celtic tuning

Newtone Bouzouki Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set E A D G
Celtic .011
.011		 .015
.015		 .024w
.011		 .030w
.015

Newtone Cittern Strings Newtone Cittern

Newtone Bouzouki Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set A (×2) E (×2) A (×2) D (×2) G (×2)
Light .008 .014 .020w .032w .042w
Medium .010 .015 .024w .032w .044w
Heavy .011 .016 .026w .036w .046w

Shop online for Newtone strings at our string centre.

[Top of Page]

Banjo Strings

The following Newtone banjo string sets are available, in either phosphor bronze or nickel wound sets, as special order items - please contact us for up to date information on price / availability. Alternatively, other banjo strings are available to purchase online through our String Centre.

Sets, Tunings & Gauges

Newtone Banjo Strings Newtone Tenor Banjo

Newtone Tenor Banjo Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set A D G C
Light .009 .012 .022w .028w
Medium .010 .016 .024w .032w
Heavy .011 .017 .026w .036w

Newtone Banjo Strings Newtone 5-String Banjo

Newtone 5-String Banjo Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set D B G D G
Light .009 .011 .013 .020w .009
"E.S. Custom" .010 .012 .014 .022w .010
Medium .010 .012 .016 .024w .010
Heavy .011 .013 .017 .026w .011

Newtone Banjo Strings Newtone Plectrum Banjo

Newtone Plectrum Banjo Strings - Sets & String Gauges
Set D G B C
Light .009 .011 .013 .020w
Medium .010 .012 .016 .024w
Heavy .011 .013 .017 .026w

Shop online for Newtone strings at our string centre.

[Top of Page]

Conversion Chart - Inches to Millimetres

Common guitar and mandolin family string gauges are listed below. For other thicknesses, to convert inches into mm multiply by 25.4 - similarly, to convert mm into inches, divide by 25.4

String gauge conversion chart (inches to mm) - gauges .007 inches to .018 inches
in mm
.007 0.18
.008 0.20
.009 0.23
.010 0.25
.011 0.28
.012 0.30
.013 0.33
.014 0.36
.015 0.38
.016 0.41
.017 0.43
.018 0.46
String gauge conversion chart (inches to mm) - gauges .019 inches to .030 inches
in mm
.019 0.48
.020 0.51
.021 0.51
.022 0.56
.023 0.51
.024 0.61
.025 0.64
.026 0.66
.027 0.69
.028 0.71
.029 0.74
.030 0.76
String gauge conversion chart (inches to mm) - gauges .031 inches to .042 inches
in mm
.031 0.79
.032 0.81
.033 0.84
.034 0.86
.035 0.89
.036 0.91
.037 0.94
.038 0.97
.039 0.99
.040 1.02
.041 1.04
.042 1.07
String gauge conversion chart (inches to mm) - gauges .043 inches to .054 inches
in mm
.043 1.09
.044 1.12
.045 1.14
.046 1.17
.047 1.19
.048 1.22
.049 1.24
.050 1.27
.051 1.30
.052 1.32
.053 1.35
.054 1.37
String gauge conversion chart (inches to mm) - gauges .055 inches to .120 inches
in mm
.055 1.40
.056 1.42
.057 1.45
.058 1.47
.059 1.50
.060 1.52
.070 1.78
.080 2.03
.090 2.29
.100 2.54
.110 2.79
.120 2.82

Shop online for Newtone strings at our string centre.

[Top of Page]

Useful Information

News & Features

  • Free Postage & Packaging Free Postage & Packaging - on all strings, reeds and harmonicas. more...
  • Virtual Tour Virtual Tour - Take a virtual tour of our showroom. more...
  • Musical Instrument Insurance Musical Instrument Insurance - Get a quote online today more...

Brand Showrooms

©2000-2010 Sheehans Music Services Ltd, 58a London Road, Leicester, UK, LE2 0QD.  Design by Joel Evans.
Powered By Priam