Rotosound SB66 or Elixirs?

[WilliamSandoval]

I play a Jazz, and I have LaBella's on now, but it isn't really working for me.

I want this tone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7pOpokFYgk

EQing isn't a problem, and I know I can achieve that tone, but Flats don't cut it.

If I got the Elixirs, I wouldn't want an extremely crisp and bright tone for 6 months, and if I got the Rotos, I wouldn't want them to go super dead within a week and not have any crunch at all.

I'm leaning towards the elixirs because I'm a flats guy, and I hate buying strings, but John Paul Jones used Rotos, so I'm still on the fence.

How bright are Elixirs?
How long do Rotos last?

[nightwulf]

The elixirs are nice and bright, but then again, I swapped mine out for a set of TI flats

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by nightwulf

The elixirs are nice and bright, but then again, I swapped mine out for a set of TI flats

Do they get the broken in tone like most rounds, or do they constantly sound brand new-ly bright?

[darkstorm]

Personally I think elixers sound terrible compared to rotosound. So I'll vote rotosound.

[Deaky]

I vote Rotosound. I just strung up a set of Roto 66's on one of my Fender Precisions and I love the tone I get from them. Rotos get my vote.

[Craig_S]

Sounds to me like JPJ has flats on that Jazz. Don't know what brand. I'd Try Chromes. That said, Rotos will get you closer than Elixer.

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Sounds to me like JPJ has flats on that Jazz. Don't know what brand. I'd Try Chromes. That said, Rotos will get you closer than Elixer.

JPJ didn't use flats. He hated the feel, and wanted the sustain of rounds. He stopped using flats in his session days

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

JPJ didn't use flats. He hated the feel, and wanted the sustain of rounds. He stopped using flats in his session days

Still sounds like flats and he isn't muting. You want that tone now or two months of heavy playing from now?

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Still sounds like flats and he isn't muting. You want that tone now or two months of heavy playing from now?

Tone knob. That is all.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

Tone knob. That is all.

Then you've answered your own question, haven't you. You know what he was using back then.

[Luckydog]

Funny thing is, jpj endorses elixir now. Doesnt mean he uses them now lol! Could be he just needed some endorsement $.

As far as flats that crunch, to my knowledge there is nothing out there. And elixirs absolutely do not feel like flats. I played them for years. I think closest you'll find in a flat that crunches is thomastik, and they do more of a smooth growl than a crunch. Check out some Meshell Ndegeocello to hear fender jazz with thomastik.

[WilliamSandoval]

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Then you've answered your own question, haven't you. You know what he was using back then.

I know, I know what he was using back then. Rotosound Swing Bass 66. I'm just saying, he rolled off his tone to get that sound. He wasn't using flats. I was just proving to you that he didn't use flats. That's all man.

My question was not how to get that tone, but if Roto's die super quickly, and how bright Elixirs are.

If SB66s lasted as long as Elixirs did, I would definitely get those. But since they don't, I was considering Elixirs. But if Elixirs are too bright and sound like crap, then I won't get them. I just don't want to have to buy new strings every week you know?

Thats all. I'm not trying to insult you or anything.

[klaus486]

Roto's die quick for some people.......mine last a loooong time. The one set of Elixirs I've used sounded about the same for a year- bright and chimey. I think you're just gonna have to try both sets. One mans trash.....ya know.

[Craig_S]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

My question was not how to get that tone, but if Roto's die super quickly, and how bright Elixirs are.

I haven't used the SwingBass66 sets in 20 years or more, but I used to only get about one night (four 45 minute sets) out of them before they lost their brightness. I even had one set lose it's brightness before the night was over. They sound GREAT when they break in, but back then I wanted that bright sound.

If you're rolling off highs in the first place, they should work for you just fine, once they break in.

P.S. I wasn't insulted. All is good.

[mccartneyman]

Rotosound flats would work well and better than TIs to approach that sound, but you'll still have to roll back the treble, especially if you play with a pick. I have tried Elixirs and am not a fan of either the sound or the feel.

[WilliamSandoval]

but I'm not looking for flats...

[BassPlayer900]

YMMV, but...

I have a Jazz bass. I run both pickups full with the tone off and palm mute and I seemed to have nailed JPJ's sound (for songs like What Is And What Should Never Be). My strings are broken in DR Lo Riders.

In that track you posted, it sounds like (to me anyway) he is using flat wounds of some sort with a pick. If you don't want flats, maybe try muting the strings with your palm or a foam mute? That is what I would try anyway.

[mccartneyman]

Originally Posted by WilliamSandoval

but I'm not looking for flats...

If you're looking for rounds that sound like flats, I would definitely avoid RS 66. Perhaps a nickel wound string would work best, with the tone control rolled back toward bass.

[locisbrelm]

I would recommend a Pressure round or even a half round string like Rotosound Solo 55s.

[bassgod0dmw]

I wasn't a fan of Elixir strings. I never found them to be bright and chimey at all. They sound slightly dead and stay that way for a long time.