Rotosound RS77M Soundclip (I switched from Chromes)

Mark Olson · #1 10-12-2010, 05:23 PM

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=9749042

Rotosound RS77M's (.040-.090) Medium Scale Monel Flats. Gibson SG Bass, both pickups, bridge pickup has been lowered and bridge is a Kahler 7410. Volume on full, tone at 5. Amp is a Marshall 2061X (tube) amp into an Emperor 2x15" cabinet loaded with Celestion speakers mic'd with an SM57 straight into a soundcard and into Audacity.

As far as this tone goes, I'm very happy with my switch from Chromes. These rotos deliver the thump I felt I was missing with the Chromes.

Mark Olson · #2 10-13-2010, 08:12 PM

Here's another clip with the same settings on everything, all I do is dig in a tad which adds some drive to the sound:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=9754003

Nice dynamics with these strings, I can go from rooting a country ballad or a reggae tune to a rocker without adjusting anything, just digging in a tad more with my right hand.

markanini · #3 10-14-2010, 03:46 AM

That's a great rock sound from a flat. No wonder that Iron Maidens bass player uses them.

RedLeg · #4 10-14-2010, 04:19 AM

well I am glad I have a set coming in the mail

RCCollins · #5 10-14-2010, 04:23 AM

I was frustrated with TI jazz flats and replaced them with these high-tension cables. I'm not looking back! They play better and are just plain more versatile.

Mark Olson · #6 10-15-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markanini

That's a great rock sound from a flat. No wonder that Iron Maidens bass player uses them.

Thanks, a nice non master volume tube amp helps for sure.

I think I'm going to try some rotosound tapewounds next. I'm also going to get a handwired EB-0 Mudbucker pickup and put that in my bass and see what that does to the tone.

Mark Olson · #7 10-15-2010, 05:26 AM

It's after 7 am, a good time to sit down and improvise a new piece using these Rotosound strings. Here you go:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=9759995

Maxed the tone on the bass, set the amp's tone at 3 o'clock and amp volume low (my across the street neighbors are like 100 yards away but they can hear me when I crank my 20 watt tube amp), clicked on my MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay, and let 'er rip.

markanini · #8 10-15-2010, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

Thanks, a nice non master volume tube amp helps for sure.

I think I'm going to try some rotosound tapewounds next. I'm also going to get a handwired EB-0 Mudbucker pickup and put that in my bass and see what that does to the tone.

I can't really see how anything less bright than roto flats will sound good with mubuckers.
But whatever floats you boat...

Mark Olson · #9 10-15-2010, 08:03 AM

Mel Schacher used tapewounds through a mudbucker, and with no bridge pickup (I've got a bridge pickup). I don't think he didn't sound good.

Also, in case you didn't notice I already am playing through an SG Bass. It's not going to be that big of a change to switch pickups.

Mark Olson · #10 10-15-2010, 08:55 AM

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=9760603

Here's with the amp's bass channel dimed for a heavy sound with the Rotosound flats. It's perfectly possible to add in as much treble as you want with the guitar channel on the amp (the bass channel lacks treble when dimed), but I didn't because my current pickups are microphonic and adding treble at that volume is feedback city.

rolandm · #11 10-15-2010, 06:34 PM

That brought back memories of my '64 Norwood when I first started playing. Had flats and sounded ALOT like that. It wasn't a Fender P-Bass, so I caught hell from other players, and sold it to buy a P-Bass copy.

Oh the things we do when we are young and don't know better.

Mark Olson · #12 10-16-2010, 01:51 AM

Yeah it happens! I'm really liking my tone with these strings. I've got a few sets of them and I'm keeping them on my bass for now. Going into the studio sunday to do some drums for my forthcoming album. If I get time I may do a couple new tracks with these strings too.

vespasian1 · #13 10-16-2010, 08:28 AM

"I'm also going to get a handwired EB-0 Mudbucker pickup and put that in my bass and see what that does to the tone."

Good idea, because these "reissue" basses sure don't sound like the EB3 they are supposed to sound like. Not that they sound bad, I just think Gibson fans were hoping for something closer to the original. I know I was.

But while my recolections of the '70s are not all crystal clear, I think the EBO mudbucker is larger than the neck mudbucker on either the EB3 or reissue.

OK, I checked some pictures of EBOs, and it looks like they may be the same size after all.

http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-eb-...0-sg-bass-1973

Funny. I could have sworn the O had a bigger pup. Sorry.
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Mark Olson · #14 10-16-2010, 09:14 AM

Thanks for the info! My tech said he could make the pickup fit regardless so I'm not worried. I don't do all this stuff myself hahaha.

Mark Olson · #15 10-18-2010, 06:04 PM

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=9775450

Here's a more typical playing style clip, fingerstyle and all. Depending on how you play you might find this clip more useful.

Also my Tapewounds are in. When I do eventually put them on my bass I'll do clips of those too if I can.

Mark Olson · #16 11-01-2010, 08:53 PM

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...songID=9827356

Here's these flatwounds with my EHX English Muff'n. They still get a nice ballsy crunch and grind. Might try that with the tapewounds tomorrow and see what I get.