Rotosound Trubass Black Nylons

Bass Below · #1 03-20-2007, 03:49 PM

I searched the forums and found very little on these strings, so I thought they deserved a thread of their own.

For those of you who may have experience with them, I have a few questions, and my ears are open to any other information and opinions you're willing to offer.

My first question of course is about the sound. From numerous things I've read around the net in a short time, I understand they are very warm but at the same time reproduce some charecteristics of a roundwound?

Next, I'm curious about the gauges. The set that I'm looking at for my trial run on my Stingray 5 is .65 .75 .100 .115 .135, which in metal, is exactly what I was looking for. In my current band, I tune way down, so I was looking for a heavier gauge string. Does the fact that it is nylon wrapped make any difference in the effect of gauge on tension?

I'd also like to know how they feel. Do they feel any different than, say D'Addario Chromes? That's what I've mostly been playing on.

Thanks in advance for any input!

saxnbass · #2 03-20-2007, 05:03 PM

I have a set on my '54 RI P. They in now way, IMO, sound like rounds. They are very dull and boomy, exactly what I wanted. Very little attack, but a pretty nice sustain.

Feel: They are a lot smoother than Chromes, but slightly stickier if you sweat, as they are nylon.

Gauge: I have the BEAD strings on mine but tuned EADG. It's high tension and actually works. I used to have the EADG strings tuned EADG and it was a bit loose. The gauge by numbers look thick, but they are really not that tense. They feel thick, but not tight.

Of course, this is all my experience and YMMV. Hope it still helps you out though. I can record a sound sample when my interface comes in (should be any day now).

Bass Below · #3 03-20-2007, 05:15 PM

Definitely helps, thanks!

I've been searching for info and I've read in a few different places that the gauge can be misleading when it comes to tension, which in my case, is somewhat disappointing. I thought I may have found the potentially perfect string... but I'm going to keep looking into them and definitely try out a set anyway.

I'm wondering, tension wise, what gauge would they be comparable to in a set of Chromes or a similar metal wrapped flatwound? Any technical guys out there?

saxnbass · #4 03-20-2007, 05:23 PM

The Trubasses feel like a light gauge .40-.95 to me.

Jim Carr · #5 03-20-2007, 05:34 PM

Do these come in an EADGC set? Thanks!

saxnbass · #6 03-20-2007, 05:39 PM

Nope, but they make a 6-string set and just discard the B string.

Bass Below · #7 03-20-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

The Trubasses feel like a light gauge .40-.95 to me.

Ah, see I'm looking for something like what Ernie Ball offers in its Group I Flat set, which is .55, .75, .90, .110, then I'd have to purchase separately the "B" string, which Ernie Ball only offers in a .130, which for my tuning, IMO is not quite heavy enough. Thus, my dilemma...

So the Trubass strings may not be what I am looking for, at least not for this band, though they definitely sound like something I'd be into bigtime. I'm just afraid that at this low tuning, they're gonna be like spaghetti and I'm going to get absolutely no sound out of them.

saxnbass · #8 03-20-2007, 05:55 PM

What are you tuning them to?

Bass Below · #9 03-20-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

What are you tuning them to?

I tune it: G#, C#, F#, B, E.

The reason for that is, the guitarist tunes his whole guitar a step down (to "D") then drops his "D" a half step. He bases most of the rhythm on his "D" string (technically a C#), so with my bass tuned this way, I'm free to do my own thing. It works very well for us as a band.

Just gave me some minor headache with my low string, tuned down to a G#, you can imagine I wasn't getting much out of it

saxnbass · #10 03-20-2007, 06:16 PM

Mmmm. Not sure these strings would be too good for that. I can tune my bass that way tomorrow and let you know how it goes if you wanna really know. I'm heading to bed now though as it's 0113 (1:13 am) and I'm tired. I have to work tomorrow too.

Bass Below · #11 03-20-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxnbass

Mmmm. Not sure these strings would be too good for that. I can tune my bass that way tomorrow and let you know how it goes if you wanna really know. I'm heading to bed now though as it's 0113 (1:13 am) and I'm tired. I have to work tomorrow too.

That's very nice of you, thank you! Have a good night.

saxnbass · #12 03-21-2007, 03:42 AM

Will have to remember to do this when I get home from work. Leaving in like 10 minutes, otherwise I'd do it now.

The Craw · #13 03-21-2007, 10:09 PM

I cut and measured a dead Trubass set. Underneath the nylon flat wrap you'll find a 44-96 set of rounds. With the thickness of the nylon, they feel a bit on the stiff side, but they certainly are low tension on your neck. I wouldn't think you'd get good results if you detuned them that much.

Rayzorx · #14 03-21-2007, 10:18 PM

I use a set of these on my Godin A5. As mentioned in one of the other posts, they are a bit darker and thuddy, but they have a warm sound. I like the sound on the Godin because it's similar to an UB, IMO.

I especially like the feel on them. With mine, I can feel slight imperfections in the wrap, and they seem easier for my fingers to get traction on. Not at all like the LaBella's, which seemed way too smooth and slick.

If you like the sound that McCartney got on his Hofner, you'll like these. Although I think he used the Fender black wraps.

saxnbass · #15 03-23-2007, 05:14 AM

I have a sound clip uploaded to soundclick, I'm just trying to figure out how to give you the link to it.

bearfoot · #16 03-23-2007, 05:45 AM

I used a set for a while on a short scale ABG many moons ago. Great sound for that. Then I had them on a P/J for a spell. Also great sound but I went back to rounds. I could see putting them on my hollowbody shorty one day if I get tired of the half rounds.
They were damned pricey, those TruBass strings. I should have kept them when I took them off those basses.

saxnbass · #17 03-25-2007, 06:04 AM

Here's the clip man. Sorry for the delay, I was out camping:

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/song...songID=5147997

Bass Below · #18 03-25-2007, 08:43 AM

Thanks saxnbass, very cool of you to do that. Sounds very cool too, I'm definitely going to have to pick up a set and try them out.

saxnbass · #19 03-25-2007, 12:14 PM

Mine sound a little deeper and thicker as I'm using the B-D strings tuned E-G, so they're super fat, but it's extremely close. Not much of a difference.