Joe Newberry endorses Straight Up Strings

Joe NewberryStraight Up Strings has announced a new endorsement program, and a new endorser.

The company, which markets acoustic instrument strings with specialized gauges designed by veteran industry tech Roger Siminoff, is happy to welcome Joe Newberry on board as an endorser of their banjo and guitar strings. Joe performs regularly as a solo artist, in a duo with Mike Compton, and with fiddler April Verch. He also plays old time music with Mike Craver, Bill Hicks, and Jim Watson, and is a noted songwriter in the wider acoustic music field.

Siminoff’s concept with Straight Up Strings was to find gauges with downward pressure at the bridge compensated to account for the fact that mandolin and banjo bridges are not in contact with the top across its entire length. Some of the strings have a direct vertical contact over a bridge foot, while others are positioned over an arch. He believes that the gauges he has developed address this issue successfully, allowing for greater string-to-string balance where tone and sustain are concerned.

And a great many players seem to agree, including Joe Newberry.

“A musician’s life is made so much easier by having the right tools for the job. Straight Up Strings are artfully designed and beautifully crafted, and feel just right in my hands and in my ear.”

For flat top guitar, with its fixed bridge, Straight Up Strings are compensated for the varying torque loads at the point of contact at the saddle.

Roger has now retired, and has left his company to the capable management of his two step-daughters, Kali Nowakowski, and Amy Sullivan. They also manage the company’s featured artists charity program, where 5% of a direct purchase price of Straight Up Strings from their web site is donated to the charity of each endorser’s choice.

In Joe’s case, it’s the Augusta Heritage Center Scholarship program. Simply mention his name when you make a purchase from the Straight Up web site and the donation will be made to the program. Details about the featured artists’ choices can be found online.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.