How to use Rotosounds

kyral210 · #1 12-11-2007, 03:18 PM

As we all know, The best strings are as follows:

D'addario
Ernie Ball
Rotosound

So some of you may be wondering, what can we do with those dastadly third rate strings? Well, here is the answer to your questions!

doing a pro setup often requires one set of strings to be used first as a rough guide before the final set is added. Crap rotosound excels here!
Need to shim your nut? The paper pouches they come in make perfect material. Just cut to size, soak in super glue and apply (careful with fingers).

Thats all I can think of, add your suggestions below!

JanusZarate · #2 12-11-2007, 03:35 PM

The ranking is a joke, right?

Granted, I'm not very fond of Rotosounds, but still...

Nice ideas for using them, BTW.

mrokern · #3 12-11-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyral210

As we all know, The best strings are as follows:

Rotosound
Ernie Ball
D'addario

Fixed it for you.

j.a.e.r.i.p · #4 12-11-2007, 03:38 PM

having played all of the strings listed above i would have to say that rotosounds are the best strings up there. no doubt, IMHO

Basshappi · #5 12-11-2007, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.a.e.r.i.p

having played all of the strings listed above i would have to say that rotosounds are the best strings up there. no doubt, IMHO

+1

Oscar South · #6 12-11-2007, 04:07 PM

Personally I think that Rotos are amazing sounding strings.. ..for about 2 hours worth of playing.

If I had the money to replace strings every gig I would use rotos, quite a few successful bassists do (Billy Sheehan, John Paul Jones, Geddy Lee and John Entwhistle to name a few), they just die a bit fast.

I use La Bella Hard Rockin' Steels for rehearsing, one set will last months and still sound good if you boil them every few weeks, then I use Rotos for gigs.

bthiemann80 · #7 12-11-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.a.e.r.i.p

having played all of the strings listed above i would have to say that rotosounds are the best strings up there. no doubt, IMHO

+1

If there's any of them you dont want, send 'em my way. I'll give them a good home.

Rawkabilly · #8 12-11-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyral210

As we all know, The best strings are as follows:

D'addario
Ernie Ball
Rotosound

As far as rounds go, I like DR better than any of those. I really like D'Addario Chromes, though.

DavidRavenMoon · #9 12-11-2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscar South

Personally I think that rotos are amazing sounding strings.. ..for about 2 hours worth of playing.

If I had the money to replace strings every gig I would use rotos, quite a few successful bassists do (Billy Sheehan, John Paul Jones, Geddy Lee and John Entwhistle to name a few)

+1! I used Rotos for about 8 years back in the 70's. Then the quality became inconsistent. Then I would switch to things like Picato and Sound City. They are great sounding strings, no doubt. We've heard them on many recordings... Stanley Clarke, Chris Squire, etc. Interestingly, Entwhistle used Rotosound nylon tape wounds on My Generation, as did Larry Graham on most of the Sly recordings.

Anthony Jackson said he used to change them every day when he was recording. The next day they would sound too different to do overdubs or punches.

I've been using D'Addario's for about 10 years now, and after the first day, they sound the same for about 4 months! After that the low B gets a bit farty, but the rest sound almost like new. It's amazing.

Oscar South · #10 12-11-2007, 04:45 PM

I just realised that I meant to say 'if I had the money to change my strings every day', I don't have THAT many gigs

.

bearfoot · #11 12-11-2007, 04:51 PM

I don't think most of the string brands actually make strings, they just pick the guages and metal types they want from a wholesale manufacturer, and make a pretty package. Didn't Ernie Ball start that with his "slinky" strings? I wonder how many actual string manufacturers there are.

j.a.e.r.i.p · #12 12-11-2007, 05:02 PM

rotosounds say handmade in england right on the box so i assume that they make their own strings

crapusername · #13 12-11-2007, 05:07 PM

D'addario also make their own, as do Fender
IIRC one of the rotosound reps years ago told me there were only about 6 companies actually still making strings. They make them and sell them on.

Oh, and Rotos all the way for me. I can normally get about 3 -4 months from a set, despite playing every day. (I teach !)

mimaz · #14 12-11-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyral210

As we all know, The best strings are as follows:

D'addario
Ernie Ball
Rotosound

I must have missed that memo,

, 'cuz I really don't care for any of the above mentioned strings! Rotos don't last long enough to even get started, and I recently tried a set of D'Ad's (only ones the store had, and I was in a pinch), I was plenty dissapointed with the tone. Actually, I can't even remember the last time I tried EB's, so maybe I'm missing something there.

For me, here's my (short) list:

1. Dean Markley Blue Steels
2. DR Hi-Beams

Asa Samuel · #15 12-11-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrokern

Fixed it for you.

+1

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.a.e.r.i.p

having played all of the strings listed above i would have to say that rotosounds are the best strings up there. no doubt, IMHO

+1

DavidRavenMoon · #16 12-11-2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mimaz

For me, here's my (short) list:

1. Dean Markley Blue Steels
2. DR Hi-Beams

Talk about two sets of strings that go dead in 2 days! Actually the Markley's went dead in 2 hours. I had to change them the next day! Their guitar strings are the same way.

Try D'Addario Pro Steels...

GHS Boomers go on my Bozo list. Dead out of the package!

GradyBass · #17 12-11-2007, 05:49 PM

I liked the Blue Steels, but I broke them weekly.

Right now, I'm loving my GHS's, and have been for months now. Consistent sound, and they last!!

I'm still checkin things out, but I LOVE my GHS strings!

DavidRavenMoon · #18 12-11-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyBass

I'm still checkin things out, but I LOVE my GHS strings!

I used to use them for years. Then recently I picked up a set to replace 6 month old D'addario's on one of my basses. The GHS strings sounded duller than the 6 month old strings. The low B was the worst too.

Like I said, I used Bommers for a long time. I don't know if they changed or my taste in strings did.

But that's just my experience.... YMMV.

I've tried so many different brands of strings, it's not funny!

Next I want to try Dunlop strings.

Disc · #19 12-11-2007, 06:55 PM

Ive gone through a lot of strings and recently put on old set of DR sunbeams on in place of some new rotosounds. Man I love those sunbeams, I dont think I will ever buy anything else.

mimaz · #20 12-11-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

Talk about two sets of strings that go dead in 2 days! Actually the Markley's went dead in 2 hours. I had to change them the next day! Their guitar strings are the same way.

Try D'Addario Pro Steels...

Never had that problem, in fact my experience with the Blue Steels has been that they last for a long time. Can't say I've ever tried the Pro Steels.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by GradyBass

I liked the Blue Steels, but I broke them weekly.

Right now, I'm loving my GHS's, and have been for months now. Consistent sound, and they last!!

I'm still checkin things out, but I LOVE my GHS strings!

I'm puzzled by the breakage. I've been playing well over 30 years, and I can remember breaking a string only twice. Literally.

Years ago (at least 10), I remember using GHS Boomers for a good while. Don't remember exactly why I got away from them, but I think it was because I discovered the DR's, then the Blue Steels.