rotosound

danall4321 · #1 07-31-2008, 04:02 AM

I use roto sound bass strings i think there good but id like to hear someone elses veiws on them or if neone knows of strings like them with the same sound that last longer

mario222 · #2 07-31-2008, 11:59 AM

The thing with Rotosound is that their pretty damn unique. No other string really sounds like them and I mean both rounds and flats. The only drowback is that there life and by this I mean that magic fresh Roto sound dosent last very long and the only way to get it back it to change them. They do have their fans though. There isnt anything quite like them but I would think that something like Dadario Pro Steels would probably get close(when fresh) and last a litle longer.

ZonGuy · #3 07-31-2008, 12:17 PM

Its been years since I bought Rotosounds, but I am thinking about some right now. I think swing bass comes in steel or nickel option - that what the GC guy said. Do the Rotosound nickels last longer?

maxgrant · #4 07-31-2008, 12:24 PM

I used to use Rotosounds but they ate my frets. Loved the sound.

I tried various things like Ken Smiths' compressorwounds and others, and have ended up sticking for about 18 years now with DR. There are some inconsistencies, and sometimes a set of DR will be slightly less high-quality.

If I could afford to get my basses refretted every few years, I'd use Rotos all the time.

back as a wolf · #5 08-01-2008, 06:54 PM

I would use rotosounds more often but I agree with mario222 on this one. My hands kill a fresh set of rotos within a few hours. Great sounding string when still fresh, though.

Johnny Crab · #6 08-01-2008, 11:33 PM

Been using them since they were invented.
Still use them on all my basses after the "factory" set dies.

Yes they can eat frets if you use the roundwounds, fret with a lot of pressure and/or vibrato/bend(rubs the string across the fret parallel to the string windings).

They do spit out an inconsistent string now and again. Over a couple or few decades, I've had maybe 5 dead or wierd strings that just didn't sound like they belonged to the set.

Here's what using them on a 64 T-Bird for a little over 10 years of practicing 3~ 4 times per week for 4 hours plus 3 gigs per week looks like. This bass got used so much my thumb wore out a hole into the wood of the body:

WARNING: picture below taken before the bass was brought in for repair....snapped off headstock shot! I've included this picture to show what a bass that has been played for hours per day for a decade will look like fret-wise....but then ask yourself: Do you still play the same bass you played a decade ago? If you did, wouldn't it be worth the $$$ to feed it brand-new frets?

After all....Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, John Entwistle, Martin Turner, Greg Lake, and all the other Roto-heads back then and now...have a wonderful sound.

ausf · #7 08-02-2008, 09:50 AM

I used nothing but on my Ric and loved the sound. They are tough though. Wouldn't dream about using them on a fretless, that's when I switched to D'A Supersofts. The I realized how how tough Rotos were.

I was toying with the idea of using them on my P, but the luthier put the cabash on that.

GeneralElectric · #8 08-02-2008, 10:21 AM

When I used Rotosounds I changed them before every gig.

nohbudi · #9 08-02-2008, 10:33 AM

Haha, the SS frets on my Warmoth actually eat my Rotos. I do use them on my fretless ibanez... but I figure once the neck is totally hosed, I can just buy another one for 100 bux, and do it again... maybe have it epoxied..... But I played a set of DAs on it out of desperation, and it sounded like a cheap sandwich compaired to the Rotos.

dreadheadbass · #10 08-02-2008, 10:47 AM

i tried loads of strings before i settled on the strings that i thought gave me the closest sound to what i was after and they turned out to be roto jazz bass 77's (50-110) and i've used nothing but them since they seem to be a string you either love or hate n i love em

Eckie · #11 08-02-2008, 11:01 AM

When I was gigging I used RS66s about 80% of the time. I agree about the relatively short life, plus I was nearly always disappointed with the relatively lifeless E-string.

Now, if I ever get back gigging, I'll use Fender 8520 Superbass - IMO a good bit beter than Rotos for not much more money

kyral210 · #12 08-02-2008, 10:53 PM

I dont know why Rotosound are so big. I have tried nearly every set of strings available and I have to say I hate Rotosound!

For me the tone is inferior and they dont last. Ok, maybe they fit your tone then all power to you. But for me, they just plain dont work.

Right now I am loving my GHS Boomers. I am thinking of trying D'addario strings again, as they are very good, but we shall see. For now, every bass I own is rocking the boomers.

GeneralElectric · #13 08-03-2008, 04:22 AM

They're big because of their distinctive sound and the fact that they were the first set of roundwound strings ever made.

Also, Rotosound offers more than the Swingbass set.

I personally prefer the Trubass.

GM60466 · #14 08-04-2008, 06:00 AM

77 flats are my new favorite strings. Less tension than Chromes, and more boom than Deep Talkers. Priced about the same.

G

sickest beast · #15 04-09-2009, 12:52 AM

I just grabbed my first set of Rotosounds. Swingbass 66 .045-.105.

This is my first new set of strings in just under a year (I know I know, i've been POOR), and the first thing I noticed when I took one out of the pack is how ROUGH they feel!

I haven't put them on yet, I'm gonna dedicated tomorrow to setting up my bass perfectly when I put these on.

I can't wait to hear them.

metallibass95 · #16 04-09-2009, 01:02 AM

I love the old school round smooth sound you get from rotosounds on the highs. Rather than the twang you get from Ernie Balls on high end. I have never seen rotosound nickel strings though, the only strings I have seen to buy is steel strings. I heard Cliff Burton used rotosounds and I thought I would give them a try to get that classic sound and it sound really good. Just make sure the bass you use them on is a classic old school bass or even maybe just passive would work. They don't sound too good on new school active basses.

sickest beast · #17 04-09-2009, 10:08 PM

they sound and feel great on my fender jazz

infamusblkdeath · #18 04-09-2009, 11:08 PM

rotos are great.i don't like the really metal-y feeling they have when you first put them on though.the only other string besides rotos i've tried were the regular d'addarios.i think they actually might be better,they are really flexable and feel extremely good.they felt so good that i can't explain it,they were mysteriously good.plus they had good tone,and they lasted for a long time.my one A string from the same package
is still going strong.i want to try EB strings though

sickest beast · #19 04-10-2009, 11:17 AM

I actually went from d'addario to Rotosound this time.

I can see myself maybe using these strings for studio recording. They are a bit rough but they sound SOOOOOOOOO alive!!! Everywhere I read that they don't last too long, therefor, PERFECT STUDIO STRING.

I'd put these on a vintage Jazz for studio work and probably keep DM Blue Steel on my live bass.

metallibass95 · #20 04-21-2009, 12:48 AM

I got a question though. I tried Rotosound 66's in the largest gauge and thought they were good but now I am wanting to go back to nickel strings. Rotosound only makes nickel on steel and I have no experience at all with nickel on steel, how do they compare to just regular nickel and steel strings?