Rotosound 66 rounds on my MIM fretless jazz

[bassman_al]

Did a search, read the results, decided also to post my own thread. Just got a set of Rotosound 66 rounds for a good price. I used to use these strings a lot 20 years ago. Looking for opinions about their interaction with fretless necks. Is the tone worth the extra wear, in your opinion?

I was playing LaBellas and liked the tone I got with those flats, but figured I might check how the Rotosounds sound, for the heck of it.

Thanks in advance for input!

[carlos840]

I think you will be fine!
If it worked for Jaco it should work for you...
IMO the fretless chewing thing is a bit dramatized and unless your planning on playing your bass 22 hours a day doing loads of bends all the time you shouldnt have an issue!
If worst comes to worst you might have to change the fretboard in 10 years!
Big deal!

Also, without being nasty, its a MIM jazz! Not a fancy custom made rare wooded bass!

[bassman_al]

Thanks Carlos. This is my first fretless, and my thinking was definitely to try out a fretless using a less expensive neck and fretboard with the idea that if I like playing it and can justify an upgrade, then I will after a period of time do just that. Of course, I have come to really like this MIM, so even though it is not boutique, it plays nicely and I want to take good care of it. I also don't want to think of it as a museum piece. A lot of thread posts on this topic refer to the concept of "play it, don't baby it. The fretboard can always be repaired or replaced if necessary.

At the same time, if there are rounds that sound and feel similar to these Roto's, and will allow me to play longer between maintanence on the neck, so much the better.

Elixir's were suggested to me by another TB-er who has a youtube video of his playing, with great tone.

Regarding the Jaco comment, he had his fretboard coated with epoxy, which is well documented here on TB and in other circles as well. So my fretboard is not really comparable to his.

[darkstorm]

Worth the tone yes. Alternate excellent choice would be DR neons. Coated, but the only string I like as well as roto 66 for sound.

[carlos840]

Originally Posted by bassman_al

Thanks Carlos. This is my first fretless, and my thinking was definitely to try out a fretless using a less expensive neck and fretboard with the idea that if I like playing it and can justify an upgrade, then I will after a period of time do just that. Of course, I have come to really like this MIM, so even though it is not boutique, it plays nicely and I want to take good care of it. I also don't want to think of it as a museum piece. A lot of thread posts on this topic refer to the concept of "play it, don't baby it. The fretboard can always be repaired or replaced if necessary.

At the same time, if there are rounds that sound and feel similar to these Roto's, and will allow me to play longer between maintanence on the neck, so much the better.

Elixir's were suggested to me by another TB-er who has a youtube video of his playing, with great tone.

Regarding the Jaco comment, he had his fretboard coated with epoxy, which is well documented here on TB and in other circles as well. So my fretboard is not really comparable to his.

Forgot about the Epoxy!

Well i guess the only thing you can do is try!

Regarding other strings that sound like Rotos i havent found any! I use only Rotos myself and find that nothing comes close!
Maybe you could try the nickel ones, they are meant to be softer on frets, dont know if that would make a difference on a fretless but its not going to hurt trying!

Elixires are as far from Roto66 as you can get really, and i personally cant deal with the texture they have! Hate the coating!