Red cotton/coating at top of some strings??

[Stingray19]

I noticed some strings on some player's basses have red cotton/coating at the top of the string at the head stock. What brands have that?? I think that looks good on a black bass.

Here's Simon Rix's bass with them:

[MutronIII]

It's silk.

Those are probably rotosounds.

[Stingray19]

Originally Posted by MutronIII

It's silk.

Those are probably rotosounds.

I figured it was something along the lines of silk. I've never actually used Rotosounds, I've stuck with Ernie Ball.

[SiReZ]

making the jump from ernie balls to rotosounds be prepared to feel pain lol

[stflbn]

In my honest opinion (IMHO) choose strings based on feel and sound rather than how they look on the instrument.

[Stingray19]

Originally Posted by stflbn

In my honest opinion (IMHO) choose strings based on feel and sound rather than how they look on the instrument.

Oh, I know. I personally LOVE my Ernie Ball's but I was just wondering if the Rotosounds sound any good, as I've never played with them. Are they brittle??

[SiReZ]

they have a bright sound but they are rough on the fingers

[sloasdaylight]

Any bass player that plays with his fingers should have ridiculous callouses already. I made the switch to rotos from EBs and didn't notice a thing.

Re OP, you might want to look at a set of DR Red Devils. They're strings coated with a red coat of something or another. They feel weird to get used to, but once you do they sound and play amazingly.

[Bassman316]

Several brands of strings have red silk at the tuning peg end of the strings. Other than Rotosound 66's, I know Fender's stainless steel rounds have the red silks. If I'm not mistaken, Rotosound's Jazz 77 flatwound strings have red silks, as do TI Flats from what I've read.

[stflbn]

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Any bass player that plays with his fingers should have ridiculous callouses already.

I've played fingerstyle for 30+ years and have never had ridiculous callouses. Or any real noticeable callouses... even now. Either hand.

[Gbassman815]

+1 for the rotosounds.....i use the swing bass 66 set on my 7 string....i love them....so bright and good

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by Bassman316

Several brands of strings have red silk at the tuning peg end of the strings. Other than Rotosound 66's, I know Fender's stainless steel rounds have the red silks. If I'm not mistaken, Rotosound's Jazz 77 flatwound strings have red silks, as do TI Flats from what I've read.

+1

Several others do as, well, but that still begs the question...why would anyone who plays a stringed instrument pick their strings based on the silk wrap color? Someone must really be confused about music.

Not trying to be sarcastic here, but does one listen with one's eyes or one's ears?

Wait. Well, Ok, I might be trying to be sarcastic.

I guess it is a sign of age, but I just fail to get this kind of obsession with appearance, especially with an instrument's appearance. It brings to mind a beautiful blond opera singer with magnificent golden locks whom I once heard. As my wife said of her, "If only hair could sing." In the former case, I guess it would be "If only red silk windings could nail a groove."