What happened to rotosound strings??

Darknut · #1 04-18-2011, 06:29 PM

Rotosound Swingbass 66 strings have been my favorite strings for nearly 30 years. Of course I've used other strings from time to time for various reasons.

I know I've seen other TB'ers about how inconsistent Roto's are nowdays & I, sadly, have had the same issues, well the other day I found a brand new set of Swingbass 66 strings I had bought in 1997 (the receipt was still with the strings ) I have moved a few times since 1997 & I guess they just got buried & I totally forgot I had them.

Anyway my point to all this is I put those old/new strings on my Pbass & OMG I had forgot how much I liked (real) Rotosounds
made me realize just how different they are now ... its really sad.

**lowendfriend** · #2 04-18-2011, 06:30 PM

If you had bought flats they might last forever!

Darknut · #3 04-18-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

If you had bought flats they might last forever!

That is probably true

pbass888 · #4 04-18-2011, 07:30 PM

hey Darknut Im trying rotos again after a long time (bot em from a fellow tb'er).. last time I used them jaco was around. Ill keep ya posted. I miss that grind also

danomite64 · #5 04-18-2011, 07:48 PM

I've been using Roto nickel rounds for years on my Jazz basses, and haven't ever had a problem with them.

Kooter92 · #6 04-18-2011, 08:22 PM

I'm thinkin about pickin me up a set tomorrow. I currently use DRs. But wanna try out something else. Lots of my favorite bassists use Rotosound. Especially Cliff Burton. I have a 5 string and not sure what gauge I wanna get cuz I like heavy bends but like a fatter B string. Not sure what gauge or type I should get?.. Any pointers.

Reptar.Bass · #7 04-18-2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kooter92

I'm thinkin about pickin me up a set tomorrow. I currently use DRs. But wanna try out something else. Lots of my favorite bassists use Rotosound. Especially Cliff Burton. I have a 5 string and not sure what gauge I wanna get cuz I like heavy bends but like a fatter B string. Not sure what gauge or type I should get?.. Any pointers.

This probly wont help you very much but i personally have fallen in love with rotosounds strings in general every single type ive tried has been awesome....but my personal favorite string of theirs hands down is the Tru-Bass strings...not positive they make 5 string sets of those..... they are the black acrylic coated flat wounds...they play and sound just like a DB they also look pretty slick

darkstorm · #8 04-18-2011, 08:59 PM

Used rotosounds has pretty much been my main strings since the 70's untill about 6 months ago. Never had a problem with them. I simply found a new string to be little bit nicer sound wise for me. Otherwise Id still be useing rotosound swing66.

Kooter92 · #9 04-18-2011, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reptar.Bass

This probly wont help you very much but i personally have fallen in love with rotosounds strings in general every single type ive tried has been awesome....but my personal favorite string of theirs hands down is the Tru-Bass strings...not positive they make 5 string sets of those..... they are the black acrylic coated flat wounds...they play and sound just like a DB they also look pretty slick

I was thinking about getting those but I'm kinda tight on my cash. They're like 45$ at Guitar Center. The Swing 66 are about 30.. Guitar players are luck cuz their strings are so cheap... 15$ at max. Lol

JimmyM · #10 04-19-2011, 01:13 AM

i pay about $12 a set for bass strings. glad i have cheap tastes.

mccartneyman · #11 04-19-2011, 09:49 AM

I used Rotosound Swing Bass for 10 years from 1971. Then I stopped playig for a while. When I came back, I bought Rotos and .. hated them. Don't know if the strings or my ears changed, but they don't sound anything like the old ones. I now favor nickel rounds. I have Roto Nickels on my Squier Jag and they sound fine.

Norwoodrules · #12 04-19-2011, 09:54 AM

ive had nothing but great experiences with the new sets. maybe ive been lucky.

Darknut · #13 04-20-2011, 05:41 AM

I got a new set of Swings 66's yesterday & low and behold they are good!
This new set is very close to the way there use to always sound & feel ... I guess its possible I just got a bad batch of strings previously ... I hope so

PS I have those old/new 66's on my 76 Pbass so it make for a easy comparison

Kooter92 · #14 04-20-2011, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darknut

I got a new set of Swings 66's yesterday & low and behold they are good!
This new set is very close to the way there use to always sound & feel ... I guess its possible I just got a bad batch of strings previously ... I hope so

PS I have those old/new 66's on my 76 Pbass so it make for a easy comparison

Same for me.. Got new Swing 66 Standard Gauge 5 string set.. They are pretty bomb on my Spector Legend. Different from most strings. Very rough I think, like they grab on your fingers when you pluck. I'm used to a more slick string but these are nice. I suppose that the nickel plated strings are smoother.

Mike M. · #15 04-20-2011, 01:24 PM

I haven't used Roto's in years. Use to use the Swing Bass set. Of what I recall those strings use to chew up the frets quicker than other strings did.

Is this still true of the Swing Bass set?

carlos840 · #16 04-20-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danomite64

I've been using Roto nickel rounds for years on my Jazz basses, and haven't ever had a problem with them.

Same, have them on all my basses that wear rounds!

sunbeast · #17 04-20-2011, 07:47 PM

In my experience (though it has been 5 or or years since I've used them) they are very good about customer service- I had an email conversation with the head of the company and 2 sets of new strings once when I contacted them about a bum string- Airmailed straight from Britain at that. Bad strings do happen sometimes!

OPBASSMAN1994 · #18 04-20-2011, 07:54 PM

They ended up on my jazz bass.

They're part of my secret tone stew. (If i told you the other ingredients, I'd have to kill you XD).

Johnny Crab · #19 04-20-2011, 09:52 PM

Been using Rotosounds since they were offered to the public.
The only thing that MAY have happened to them is they squeezed the cost/production/efficiency thing too hard and it got by their QC dept. You may have to do what Sunbeast did and contact them if you get a bad one, not happened here.

Price?
The last 6 sets I got for $89 with free shipping=$14.83/set Swing Bass 66 IIRC(the internet is your friend)

Tension: On my thin-necked Greco Les Paul clones, I did go with a lighter set 40-60-80-100 as the neck did not like the "normal" gauge tension. With Gibson T-Birds and Fender's, I used/use standard gauge with no problems.

Fret eating.
Ask yourself how long do you expect your bass to last?
Is it so important to have perfect frets when you pass it on?
The reason I ask is this: I played one T-Bird for over a decade with Roto roundwounds. The frets did not get replaced and it still played when I sold it. Here is what they looked like right before selling:

If you have more than one bass and rotate them, the frets will outlast you UNLESS it's a newer bass with garbage fretwire.

6 sets last me more than a year.

BoulderBassist · #20 04-20-2011, 10:20 PM

Been using swing bass strings on most of my bass including my 77 Ric which is supposed to be a bad idea but I've had great luck with them nod the sound is so great! Someone gave me a nice set of Elixers that I put on my 83 Jazz and so far I really like them.