roto 66 tone without the bloody mess?

Mekanic · #1 01-28-2010, 06:56 PM

Wondering if anyone knows of a string as piano like as the rotosound 66, but with a smoother feel?

Wanting a new set for my bass, but wanting to try something new this time.

~Rich

John Wentzien · #2 01-28-2010, 07:05 PM

Dunlop SS..

IntrepidCellist · #3 01-28-2010, 07:29 PM

Elixirs. Bright, snappy, and clanky, but very smooth-feeling and they last forever, feeling new for a significantly longer period of time.

I<34080 · #4 01-28-2010, 07:34 PM

I couldn't feel any difference between Rotos and the other strings I've used.

Demon_Hunter · #5 01-28-2010, 07:37 PM

You mean you don't like playing with barbed wire?

I tried the Dunlops and they are okay...for me nothing compares to the Roto's Just keep playing them, your fingers will toughen up. Maybe try slathering some fast fret on the strings will help.

Cannabass · #6 01-28-2010, 07:40 PM

i just put some new roto 66s on and noticed they were rough, but i been playing an older set for a while and its smooooth as silk. feels way nicer than a flatwound

i hope there's no difference in these strings and that the new rotos break in nice like the old ones

btw why does everyone like new string sound?? new strings suck

knuckle_head · #7 01-28-2010, 07:41 PM

Not all of 'em...

John Wentzien · #8 01-28-2010, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demon_Hunter

You mean you don't like playing with barbed wire?

I tried the Dunlops and they are okay...for me nothing compares to the Roto's Just keep playing them, your fingers will toughen up. Maybe try slathering some fast fret on the strings will help.

I know what you mean! LOL!
The Dunlops are not quite as "Zingy" as Rotos.
But they "STAY" zingy a lot longer IMO...and are quite a bit smoother feeling.

Chowderboots · #9 01-28-2010, 07:48 PM

Check out Dunlop or Curt Mangan strings, but nothing sounds quite like fresh 66s.

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

I know what you mean! LOL!
The Dunlops are not quite as "Zingy" as Rotos.
But they "STAY" zingy a lot longer IMO...and are quite a bit smoother feeling.

I concur.

One Drop · #10 01-29-2010, 10:54 AM

Others may be as bright but they lack the particular deep metallic clang that makes Rotos sound so piano-like when new.

ghostjs · #11 01-29-2010, 11:00 AM

idk, but i love my D'addario prosteels...

Mekanic · #12 02-04-2010, 08:26 PM

Ordered a set of Rotosound Nexus today. Price was a good bit better than Elixir. I've done some reading and hear they have all the good things of the 66, but last and last.

We shall see in a few days when they arrive!

darkstorm · #13 02-04-2010, 11:00 PM

GHS boomers are my other fave string. They dont accent crunch factor like ernie balls and dont dull crunch factor like daddario, nor are they as trebly at first as dean markley blue steels. And they lack the bleh sound to my ears of elixers, DR's and most others Ive tried. The GHS Boomers to my ears have a little bit smoother overtones to me that are esp nice for bell tone harmonics. Whereas the Rotos do other types of harmonics slightly better to my ears. Piano tone is gonna be somewhat dependent on what type of piano your trying for piano tone char for bass guitar. However adjusting the 6kHz range ussually helps bring this out to me. Basses whose onboard treble control is centered at 6khz-6.5khz have done best piano tone to my ears with rotosounds and others.

ksandvik · #14 02-04-2010, 11:08 PM

Dunlops are nice but not sounding like Rotos. DR Lo-Riders is the closest I've found, like them myself.

eddievanbassman · #15 02-04-2010, 11:13 PM

Man rotos arent that bad. Build some calluses and man up. If you want the real tone go with the real strings. They're all I play and Ive never had any problems
.

Meatrus · #16 02-05-2010, 04:43 AM

I would be interested to hear how you get on with the Nexus strings, I have never tried them but keep meaning to.

If they dont work for you I would go back to the Roto 66, as has already been said they are quite unique, and your fingers will toughen up. The Dunlops are very nice too, but IMO nothing like the Rotos, and have an almost new Nickel like quality to them.

dalkowski · #17 02-05-2010, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

Man rotos arent that bad. Build some calluses and man up. If you want the real tone go with the real strings. They're all I play and Ive never had any problems
.

+1. I played Rotos exclusively for years and years starting at 14 (emulating my hero, Entwistle). Swiched to GHS Boomers in later life as a cost-saving measure when I started having adult expenses.