Rotosound Question.

[Dr Gero]

Hey, I just got a 5 string active bass, But it came with crappy roundwound strings.

I have fender all metal flats on my 4 string and like the flat sound alot more then rounds, But I was looking at these


http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ngs?sku=102879


Question is, Are they flatwound strings with nylon over them, Or roundwound?

[Meatrus]

They are flats, and seem to be getting very popular recently! I have had them on my fretless for two years plus, and love them. You can hear sound samples on Rotosounds's website.

[gtrandbass]

Are the Rotosounds true flatwounds? The Fender nylon tapewounds I have on my fretless are not completely smooth, closer to semirounds perhaps. I love those Fenders.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by gtrandbass

Are the Rotosounds true flatwounds? The Fender nylon tapewounds I have on my fretless are not completely smooth, closer to semirounds perhaps. I love those Fenders.

Well they are as true flats as tapes can be . But yes they are just like flats under the tape, and not like the Labellas or Fenders.

[gtrandbass]

Good info! If Labellas are closer to the Fender tapewounds I'll probably get a set of them for my short scale Gretsch instead of Rotosounds. Labella and Rotosound are the only makers of short scale tapewounds I know of.

[jaibot]

ghs also makes a set which are supposedly top notch

[gtrandbass]

Looks like GHS does not make short scale tapewounds. Just learned Pyramid and Status-Graphite offer such.

[Dr Gero]

so they are more mellow and low end focused then normal flats?

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by Dr Gero

so they are more mellow and low end focused then normal flats?

There is not much metalic noise which you can get with flats, but at the same time they dont sound too dead, they are quite thuddy, with a lot of low end. I'm not going to say they sound like a double bass, because that upsets people....but they give an approximation of one. So if thats the tone your after, get em!

Heres the a link to the soundclip so you can decide for yourself http://www.rotosound.com/tru88.html.

[Dr Gero]

Thanks man, Can you slap or tap with them?

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by Dr Gero

Thanks man, Can you slap or tap with them?

I'm not sure about tapping as I play mine on a fretless, so I dont tap on it (too hard!). Tapping normally sounds good because of the metallic sound of string hitting fret, so I don't think they would be very good for it, as the sound would be muted by the tape, although I could be wrong.

Slapping sounds ok for a fretless though, so you will be able to do that on your fretted, just they will have a different sound as opposed to rounds, as there isnt much high end. They may suit if your after a deep slap tone.

[newbold]

They're tapewounds - and smooth tapewounds. I haven't opened mine up to see what's inside but I can't find any info anywhere suggesting they're flats under the tape.

Does it matter? they're super fat and not at all mid-focused. Think Macca.

[Meatrus]

Originally Posted by newbold

They're tapewounds - and smooth tapewounds. I haven't opened mine up to see what's inside but I can't find any info anywhere suggesting they're flats under the tape.

Does it matter? they're super fat and not at all mid-focused. Think Macca.

I'm not sure if it matters or not to some players, but I would imagine the difference between rounds and flats under the tape would make a difference.

If you click this link http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...latwound&meta=, you will see plenty of places referring to them as flatwounds. You will also see at the bottom of the page a string review site http://www.bass-strings.com/strings-by-type, which states they are flatwound on a hex core.

[newbold]

"About Nylon Tapewound Bass Strings

Nylon Tapewound electric bass strings, as the name suggests, involve a layer of nylon wrapped around the metal winding. This produces a much darker, warmer and softer tone, and is much easier on the fingers.

The nylon wrapping can go on the outside of a flatwound string, as is the case of Rotosound Tru Bass 88 and others, or a roundwound string, such as the Fender Nylon Filament Roundwound. Naturally, the nylon tape on roundwound version is brighter than the flatwound (for more information about round and flatwound strings, visit the bass string guide.)

Nylon tapewounds are often considered the closest you can get to an upright bass sound, given that there is more "thump" and less sustain. They also maintain the same character of sound for a very long time.. there is much less of the "very bright and new sounding out of the box, noticeably more dead with time" effect of roundwound strings.

If you have ever heard Abbey Road by the Beatles, Paul McCartney is using nylon tapewound strings on the entire recording. If you have ever seen solid black strings, those are [black] nylon tapewound.

Here are some models by major manufacturers (which you can find at great deals on this site):


Nylon tape on flatwound

Rotosound Tru Bass 88 - (Black tapewound) Can be heard on Abbey Road - The Beatles, Transformer - Lou Reed, Town Called Malice - The Jam

Fender Nylon Tapewound - Dark nylon flatwound string by Fender

LaBella Deep Talkin Bass - L-760N series of Deep Talkin Bass are black nylon flatwound

Nylon tape on roundwound

Fender Nylon Filament Roundwound - "Made for players that want a brighter tone than the Nylon Tapewound 9120s, but still want a string that is easy on the fingers."
"

[CrimsonGhost]

Grahm maby - Joe Jackson's look sharp album AWSOME tone, with Rotosound tapes...

[Dr Gero]

okay, thanks guys!

[jackajesusfreak]

Anyone who uses the rotosound 88s for short scale, did you have to do any filing on the nut of the E string to get it to fit?
Jack

[BloozBass]

Jack - yes, I did have to file. In fact, I had to file all 4 slots in the nut, but keep in mind that was on an SX which typically comes strung very light from the factory. I also had to enlarge the bridge hole on the E string. As always, YMMV.

Blooz