Rotosound are not very good!

Jared21 · #1 02-23-2011, 02:29 PM

I just played a gig and in my first song the string snapped I restrung it proffesionally and they lasted a week correct me if im wrong ernie ball are better.

guroove · #2 02-23-2011, 02:33 PM

Hmmm, I haven't had a string snap on me in 20 years. When I did break them, it was always in the same spot. Maybe something is wrong with your bass. I haven't used rotosound or ernie ball strings in a long time, but I didn't particularly like the ernie balls.

mellowgerman · #3 02-23-2011, 02:34 PM

Ernie Balls being better is a matter of opinion, but don't let a string break change your perspective on an entire company. If the string really broke then there was either something wrong with the string structurally (which has happened to me a few times over the last 10 years with different manufacturers) or you had it too tight or were picking/digging into it too hard.
I'd say give them another chance. If there's no way it was your fault, tell your retailer and email the company. You will likely end up with a free replacement set.

EDIT: guroove makes a good point too... could be your bass as well

bigbottomend · #4 02-23-2011, 02:38 PM

I've never used anything but Rotosounds, I've never had one break in 20+years, I like them and like any aspect of the sound chain it will allways come down to personal preference, and that even includes the music that you choose to play.

jgroh · #5 02-23-2011, 02:41 PM

Make sure you contact Rotosound and let them know what happened. Their customer service was very good when I had an issue once. Overall I do like the tone I get with their strings, but they dont seem to last very long. I switched to DR Hi Beams and Im pretty happy.

BurningSkies · #6 02-23-2011, 02:41 PM

Its all a matter of taste. How they sound, how they feel.

Rotos wouldn't have been around for a half century if they were just junk.

I have one bass in particular that LOVES RotoSound strings. No other strings sound as good or feel as good. When I got the bass, I spoke to the maker because I was so impressed with the stock strings and found they were rotos. I tried all the other suspects but nothing sounded or felt as good.

My P bass (1973) prefers to wear D'Addarios. My Jazz bass prefers GHS. My fretless Jazz like GHS flats.

You can see how this all works...different basses, different players, different strings. I never liked Ernie Balls very much though.

**pacojas** · #7 02-23-2011, 02:44 PM

every bass player breaks at least one string over their careers.

CONGRATS!!!!

EDIT: ALMOST every bass player.

darkstorm · #8 02-23-2011, 06:14 PM

Havent broken a rotosound string since the mid 1970's. That was allways G or rarely D string and the result of being overly heavy handed in playing. Havent broken a rotosound in the allmost 30 yrs Ive used them since then.

GLEN18INCHSPICA · #9 02-23-2011, 06:23 PM

You must have a burr on your bridge or nut. I only once broke a string in 25 years of playing. I've used Rotosounds plenty, they're still in my top 2 or 3 favorite strings to use after experimenting constantly.

prd004 · #10 02-23-2011, 06:27 PM

Never broke a string in 25+ years. I love Rotosounds and use them on both my main basses, but have also used DR's and GHS over the years and never broke a one.

I would say it's either a defective string, installed incorrectly, a problem with your bass, or you're pehaps playing extremely over-aggressively with a pick? Just a few thoughts, but don't give up on the brand just because one broke.

maturanesa · #11 02-23-2011, 06:39 PM

i hate rotosounds. Rough feeling, hyper high and unbalanced tension, too much string and finger noise to the signal, eat frets like hell, and a bright that last for two days..

88ric2030 · #12 02-23-2011, 07:25 PM

Regardless of brands, bridge burrs, ALL strings can and will break,sooner or later reagrdless of brand. I'm not defending Rotosound though. I was using their strings in the late 80's-early 90's and started noticing they went dead much quicker than they used to. DR Highbeams are much better strings as an alternative, stay bright way longer, and for what it's worth I don't believe I've ever broken one, though I know someone who claims he broke several. Not sure how he did that, you'd have to play totally gonzo.

GreenApollo · #13 02-23-2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Make sure you contact Rotosound and let them know what happened. Their customer service was very good when I had an issue once. Overall I do like the tone I get with their strings, but they dont seem to last very long. I switched to DR Hi Beams and Im pretty happy.

Just wanted to say I did the same. I never had a Rotosound set break on me but they sounded "wimpy" in comparison to the rich sound I got from Hi-beams. Well worth the cost!

yellofury · #14 02-23-2011, 08:48 PM

I have broken a few Rotosound 66s in my years of playing usually the G and most often because of a heavy guage pick and going a little too crazy

the most recent was when I had a Spector 5 string and the factory string broke when I was tuning

MysterMunky · #15 02-23-2011, 09:48 PM

Steve Harris thinks they are ok.....

One Drop · #16 02-24-2011, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenApollo

Just wanted to say I did the same. I never had a Rotosound set break on me but they sounded "wimpy" in comparison to the rich sound I got from Hi-beams. Well worth the cost!

In that case I'd hate to meet that wimp in a dark alley!