Roto 66's dying

**Coolhandjjl** · #1 10-22-2011, 04:21 PM

Will just being in a room cause Rotos 66's to die, or is through sweat, grease and skin contact when playing? I swear that when I put on my first set last month they sounded bright and zingy, like nothing I ever heard before. Now they just seem like regular strings. No gigs, just occasional light practice a few time a week. I wondered if merely exposure to the room itself causes these strings to oxidize and die?

SLaPiNFuNK · #2 10-22-2011, 05:35 PM

What is the temperature in your room? Is it humid at all? Do you keep the window open?

**Coolhandjjl** · #3 10-23-2011, 07:44 AM

Controlled environment. Probably 55~60 humidity, 68 degrees.

SLaPiNFuNK · #4 10-23-2011, 05:21 PM

Any skin oils that get into the string can do it. Even if you arent playing, if you have touched a string, they react.

Maybe just need to warm up the instrument?

atomicdog · #5 10-23-2011, 05:24 PM

That's just they way they are. You can try removing them and soaking them in denatured alcohol--that will get rid of some of the oil. But for the most part, you'll have to change them frequently if you want to retain that "new" sound.

lowendgenerator · #6 10-23-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atomicdog

That's just they way they are. You can try removing them and soaking them in denatured alcohol--that will get rid of some of the oil. But for the most part, you'll have to change them frequently if you want to retain that "new" sound.

This sounds about right. During summer months, I can't even LOOK at my bass without the strings wilting. Stupid humidity. Thanks jeebus for denatured alcohol!

**Coolhandjjl** · #7 10-24-2011, 08:30 AM

These could be an expensive habit. I'll go back to my DR Lo-Rider steels. Not quite as awesome as Rotos right out of the box, but the DRs seem to be brighter in their 'settled in' state.

One Drop · #8 10-24-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolhandjjl

These could be an expensive habit. I'll go back to my DR Lo-Rider steels. Not quite as awesome as Rotos right out of the box, but the DRs seem to be brighter in their 'settled in' state.

My sentiments exactly.

I've moved away from both in favour of DR Neons over the last year, but I have a few sets of fresh Rotos lying around and I just know I'll fall for them all over again if I put them on again. It's like sex with that crazy ex-girlfriend...