Rotosounds -- What's the big deal?

[endorka]

...and at a gig yesterday, I broke one of them, the "D" string. Coincidence? I should keep my mouth shut in future!

[Asaf]

i just tried the ROTOBASS RB40-5 on my fretless, they sound really great.
for 19$ i would say it's a good deal.

[sotua]

Originally Posted by slugworth

Ken Smith strings are actually made by GHS. They're the Super-Steels relabeled.

Is that true?

If so, what GHS model are the Ken Smith nickel burners?

[The Mock Turtle Regulator]

Originally Posted by endorka

Rotosound are the strings I have used most, and I like the tone and feel of them, although I have met many who have dissed them extensively. In my opinion they give a good sound when they are old, and it stays consistent for a long, long time. I prefer the heavier gauges and am currently using flatwounds.

I also liked Elites but found that their sound wore off very quickly.

following dead string problems with Roto swing bass (2 packs with dead G's) I gave Elites stadium stainless steel a go- slightly duller than Rotos, sounded great for one gig, but went really dead after.

I've been boiling the set since and it doesn't stay bright for as long as the Rotos did after boiling.
it's strange as everyone used to claim Elites lasted longer.

[haujobb]

I have used Rotosounds for the past 4 years, and I love them. Before that I was using Ernie Ball Bass Slinkies and thought they sounded like garbage.

The music store in my area just changed locations so they are out of Rotosounds, so I've been using GHS Bass Boomers and absolutely hate them. They sound really good for the first two days and then loose their brightness. I like a really bright tone so I change my strings quite often, every month or so with the Rotosounds, but my last set of GHS's only lasted 2 weeks before they were dead. Plus the GHS strings cost more, and when I change my strings as often as I do, I can't afford to spend $40 at a time.

I can't wait for them to get the Rotosounds back

[Tedintheshed]

I have mainly used Rotos for the last 20 years, but when working in a music store I got to experiment with strings on the cheap. I used Boomers, Markley Blue Steels, D'ads and DR's (and a few others I can't recall ATM) and I always seem to come back to Rotos. I have never broken one, and the are bright and durable in sound. The are also the best bang for the buck you can buy in a string.


Next, I think I'll try Thomas-Infeilds if they have anything comparable.

Ted

[zeleuo]

An AWFUL lot of talk here about the “Sound” of strings,but absolutely no mention of technique.Gentelmen that’s precisely what it comes down to here.

Not “Preference”,but TECHNIQUE.

In short if you have to have the MOST aggressive strings,(rotosound) available either your technique,& or gear is SEVERELY lacking,you think you have to sound like somebody else,or you’re simply shooting for the most OBNOXIOUS sound possible.

I have played Rotosounds only to be HORRIFIED at how QUICKLY they RUIN perfectly good,(new) frets.With a fresh set of Roto’s I can EASILY toast frets within thirty minutes of play WITHOUT even trying!

Quite frankly the IDOL,(sheehan,lee,entwistle etc...) worshipers don’t grasp the fact that these guys either play,or have played with a VERY light touch,& have the clout to have CUSTOM strings made SPECIFICALLY for them.In most cases it doesn’t make any difference at all that you can buy some of them pre packaged with your FAVORITE artist plastered on the thing as you’re more than likely getting straight production run,only in different gauges.

Anybody who knows anything REALIZES,& accepts the fact that a Gem bought from Ibanez is NOT the same guitar that Via is,or will actually play,& so on.Not only that,most Guitars endorsed by BIGTIME artists aren’t even made by the company who’s name is plastered on the headstock!They’re stricktly handbuilt by expert Luthiers,who no one is familiar with except the BIG guys.

The same goes for ALL gear,amps,strings etc...

The point is DON’T be as nieve as a GIDDY teen who simply HAS to have what he THINKS his IDOL plays,(including strings).That is EXACTLY what the manufactures relay on for a GREAT portion of their business,& it’s essential in pulling off the venerable BAIT,& SWITCH.

On to technique.If you’re playing freehanded with your Meathooks,you NEED hooks on them plain,& simple.If you expect to have ANY definition in your “sound” that is.

I’ve seen guys with up to a quarter inch of slop hanging off the end of their fingers,& no nails to support,reinforce,or define these living Jell-O Jigglers,much less actually touch the strings.

Of COURSE your sound is going to be FLAT,& DULL!

What did you expect? You might as well be playing with pencil erasers!Be logical Gentlemen,if you HAVE to play with strings that are abrasive enough to EAT steel then something’s not right!!!

Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that some,if not all of the BIG Rotosound endorsers are playing a specific way.For the most part they’re using a VERY light touch to achieve a VERY low action,in order to increase their speed,& stamina,(not to mention ALLOT of these guys are straight up,& down the neck technical players,with no string flexation to speak of) thus string excursion is kept to an ABSOLUTE minimum.

Fine for them if they TOAST gear as they have an UNLIMITED budget to begin with,& get pretty much whatever gear they want just handed to them in abundance,& their refined playing styles reduce the HORRID affects these FRETEATERS have.

When I hear someone state that they use Rotosound’s I immediately know how they play.

In conclusion if you have an UNLIMITED budget to spend,get ALL your gear handed to you for FREE,sport an Anal Retentive playing style,HAVE to sound JUST like somebody else,Chew your nails/clip them to the quick,or simply LACK technique,& are resistant to change,then by ALL means buy Rotosound’s/Fretbeaver’s.

You’ll make ALLOT of chaps happy!

There is ONLY one string i will play when it comes to Roundwounds,& it’s NOT Rotosound!!!

Chaz

P.S. If you dispute the fact that Rotosound’s are actually tubular grinders disguised,& marketed as Bass guitar strings then hand me your FAVORITE bass with Roto’s on it for half an hour.

That’s all the time it’ll take me to make a BELIEVER out of you!

[sotua]

Originally Posted by zeleuo

Quite frankly the IDOL,(sheehan,lee,entwistle etc...) worshipers don’t grasp the fact that these guys either play,or have played with a VERY light touch,

Geddy Lee, with a VERY light touch...

Something here doesn't quite fit...

(When I used Rotosound funkmasters my frets didn't die like you say, and I had them on for more time than I should have... loved the feel so much that I was on denial on the fact that they were flatwound-dead... don't use them anymore since you can't find them easily around here)

[FenderP]

I love my Rotosounds. I have been using Rotos for, oh, 20 years now. I use flatwounds, and see no fret problems. On my fretted, I use normal flats, but on my fretless, I use the tapewound. I posted in the what strings do you use thread if you want to see my exact setups.

Over the years I think I've had two bad strings from Rotosound - both Es, actually - but that's it. The strings sounded fine, but they snapped. And at .110, that's impressive! LOL It was around the same time (about 2 years ago), so I assume it was one bad batch. Still a pretty good track record considering for nearly 20 years I've had only two minor problems.

I've experimented once or twice with other strings, but the Rotos are a key component to my sound.

[Luckydog]

Methinks that someone who willingly writes 20 paragraphs in a poor attempt to slam a string brand (and bust those with short nails...what's that all about?) is perhaps not the best reference for string selection.

[protoz]

Wow, speaking of meat cleaver hands, if you can destroy your fretboard in 30 min with a set of strings you might wanna lay off the coffee and play with some touch. I'm getting my first pair of Rotosounds soon because I've been told they are very smooth strings.

I've been playing with Blue Steels on my main bass for 2 years now and those are some damn rough strings (had to use them because they were the only decent pair my music center has without ordering) and I haven't had any fret wear on my basses over countless hours of playing.

Are your frets made of nickel?

[zeleuo]

sotua,

Geddy does have a VERY light touch.I've seen him LIVE,& up close.For the bulk of the concert he played with ONLY his index finger.Try doing two,& a half hours of his material with a heavy hand,& three fingers,& your thumb taped to your palm you'll figure it out.

You can PUMP your sound up tremendeously in many ways,ESPECIALLY in the studio.

FenderP,

Of course you're not getting fretwear with Flatwounds,(regardless of the brand).Who said you would??? Uh,they're FLAT!

Luckydog,

Nope they're just POOR strings.Try a little Tabasco under your nails you'll stop chewing them,then you can play ANY string,& have BITE!

To the others,

My Moma tought me to Ignore the Ignorant...

[SomecallmeTim]

Wow, Chaz...just...wow. I've read some ridiculous posts in my day, but that was impressive, really.

This will not be adequate, but let's see...

List of outrageous claims:
-Geddy Lee uses a light touch (not true - I too have seen him live and he really digs in on many numbers, especially during some of his fills)
-Billy Sheehan uses a light touch (nope)
-Rotosounds (or any strings) can destroy frets w/i 30 minutes (honestly man...ever think that might be a technique problem?)
-People who play rotosounds either have anal retentive technique, use them because their favorite artists do, or don't have fingernails
-Most musicians have different brands stamped on their gear to fool the masses
-One needs fingernails to get bite
-Musicians who choose to use rotos have an unlimited amount of money to buy gear

There are more, but I've got finals to study for. I don't like Rotos all that much, but most of what your arguments against them are pretty much garbage. Someone must have forgot to mention to you that if you ignore the ignorant long enough, you often become one of them.

P.S. Not that it would help your cause, but please, learn to type. Capitalizing words for no reason in no way strengthens your argument, and in some ways detracts from it (and you really, really can't afford that ).

[jasonbraatz]

Originally Posted by daofktr

hey, 'chaz'...smoke another rock, will ya?
and TRY not to EMPHASIZE EVERY other WORD if it's NOT TOO much TROUBLE!
...and learn how to spell, tyvm!
now: do you really give a crap whether or not someone disagrees with yer gawddimmed string choice, or are you just another snarky whiner? how much did 'not-rotosound' pay you to badmouth (and badly write) them, you footsniffing, basement-dwelling, self-abusing, kumquat-wearing git?
i have hemorrhoids older, bigger and meaner than you!
(they also play better bass, IMHO...)
who died and declared you Elvis???
also...not all of us are gentlemen, regardless of gender...remember that....
so watch what comes outa yer piehole, there, spanky, or you will meet the MIGHTY WRATH OF MY GT-7/SWORD OF TERROR!!!






p.s.: Jesus loves you.

What the crap is this supposed to be?


edit: yup, on further review this thread sucks.