Trick question: Any "Rotobass" string users here?

[jmm55]

It seems Rotosound indeed makes a nickel wound string in a gauge I want, called Rotobass RB50 (50 70 90 110). It's a trick question because I cannot find any decent reviews on these strings. These are unsilked, and thus cheaper than the Swingbass RS series, but Rotosound was not quite clear enough to say they are identical except for silking.

Anyone use these strings? Are they indeed RS series just without silk? And other than cosmetics, what are the ramifications of having no silk?

Edit: I just learned that Rotosound has a phone number on their website. I think I will call them tomorrow to get it the straight goods, but I am still curious to know if there are any concerns about using unsilked strings.

[Meatrus]

I understood they were identical, except with no silk. Silk doesn't do much, its supposed to protect your tuner posts from scratching I believe. Though this really isn't an issue, look at all the other string makers using no silk! It also might help the string slip less I guess, but I don't know.

[BogeyBass]

it seems this is a lower cost string made by rotosound to keep up with all the other cheapo strings that dominate the market.

and just like all other non silk strings it lowers the production cost of the string. so if they went as far as leaving off the silk...then its possible a lower quality of metal used as well....but rotosound likes to brag about its " secret formulas" for producing superior string metals.....so who knows really?

Over the years i have bounced back and fourth between a 110 and 105 E string...so i have respect for your need for a larger string. the largest nickel string rotosound makes is a 105.
Maybe for a good reason because any time i have tried a 110 nickel i did not like it, they sound funny....so i would use a steel 110 instead

So if you want a high quality Nickel string i would go with the Rotosound swing bass series. Which is the famous red silk string The well known tone is from their steel strings, but the RS66 series has a Nickel string as well which includes a "N" suffix to the part number......so go with the Rotosound RS66LDN set...should make you very happy...you will just have to live with the 105 gauge ...never know maybe its time to switch ...and if your really set on a 110 e string...then try the standard RS66LE and further more if you really love a 110 E i would absolutely recommend the Billy Sheehan custom set....The A,D and G strings are slightly lighter and it makes neck adjustments much easier, but still uses the heavy 110 E ...it is the only 110 set i use period...Rotosound part number BS66.

[maturanesa]

I tryed them once. Nothing special. They are just the same as any similar price range string like dadario, fender, etc...

[One Drop]

They are simply cheaper because they are unsilked, otherwise identical to the equivalent guage and type in the Swingbass versions.

They have right to brag. They invented the first useable roundwound string that changed the sound of EB and no other string has the same sound because no other string uses the same alloy.

Like them or hate them there is no point to insult them based on pure guesswork.