What are you opinions on Rotosound Bass Strings?

blkmetalbassist · #1 10-31-2009, 11:43 PM

hey im thinking of getting rotosound bass strings for my Laguna 4-string bass and i was wondering what your opinions are on the bass strings.

thanks

b4nny · #2 10-31-2009, 11:46 PM

I'm assuming you're talking of the famous Swing 66s. I have no experience with those.

I do have experience with the Jazz 77s though. Those strings are great. Flatwounds that sound nice and thick when played lightly but can also get some growliness if you play more agressive, especially with a pick.

WayneS · #3 10-31-2009, 11:46 PM

Speaking specifically of the Swing 66, RS77, and SH77... Hands down, the best strings that I have ever used! Just ask Duff McKagen, Steve Harris, and (RIP) Cliff Burton!

Of course there are those that hate them!

xray · #4 11-01-2009, 12:28 AM

They were my first pick until I switched to Chromes. To each their own...

iridiumrocks · #5 11-01-2009, 12:41 AM

The Swing Bass 66's are still my favorites. I have tried many others and keep coming back. They have a bright punchy tone that I haven't found with any other string.

EZ9R · #6 11-01-2009, 01:32 AM

Great sounding strings and that they are fret eaters is nonsense. That is because they are the first company to invent stainless steel round wound string. I've been using then for years and never had frets replaced.

xbmedic · #7 11-01-2009, 01:38 AM

I've been using the Rotosound Nexus coated strings for about a month now, and they are great. 1-2 hours of playing daily and the coating isn't flaking or shedding.

KNURRR · #8 11-01-2009, 02:13 AM

This is the first time i use the swing bass 66 and im very pleased.
IMO they have a very nice clear tone with alot of punch and growl. Aswell i have the feeling that those lead to a higher string tension - I like it!

bggeezer · #9 11-01-2009, 02:22 AM

been using swing 66s for ever!

John Entwistle helped design them, so they cant be that bad.

mongo2 · #10 11-01-2009, 04:40 AM

Very personal choice.

I can't stand them.

refbassist · #11 11-01-2009, 05:09 AM

been using them for too long and i will use them until i die

JayfromDeeKay · #12 11-01-2009, 05:10 AM

I loved the sound of the Swing 66s on my Jazz bass (fretless, Dimarzio DP123 Model J Pickups), but I just couldn't stand the (to me) sandpaper-like feel on my fingers. I switched to the Rotosound Jazz 77 flatwounds and I love both the sound and feel of those. Of course they don't have treble like the 66s, mind you.

fractiouslowend · #13 11-01-2009, 05:17 AM

i bought a pack of rotosounds once, they lasted 2 days on my bass before i bought another set of strings because the rotos sounded horrible and were damn near unplayable. worst strings ever.

Meatrus · #14 11-01-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fractiouslowend

i bought a pack of rotosounds once, they lasted 2 days on my bass before i bought another set of strings because the rotos sounded horrible and were damn near unplayable. worst strings ever.

Of course you are entitled to your own opinion, and that is the point of this thread but, care to define unplayable?

The following is based on the R66 stainless steel.
There will always be people who dont like them, and people who love them. If you want to know what to expect, expect quite a rough string (but I dont see this a problem, as your fingers will toughen up). With a lot of growl and top end, they will lose their initial brightness fairly quickly, but they last a very long time before going dead. I would rate the tension on them at medium low to medium.

People will bring up fret ware when talking about them, and while the 66 may be worse than other strings, they still wont be in any way bad. All the horror stories of frets waring out very quickly with Rotos are on vintage basses which have softer frets.

So I would go for them, they are very unique sounding, and not very pricey.

gidbass · #15 11-01-2009, 06:13 AM

I only used 66's back in my teenage years, stopped playing bass, and just this year started playing again. I have tried a several different sets of strings, but just yesterday I ended up back where i began, with the purchase of a set of 66's. They are a bit harsh on the fingers (if you are getting back into playing like me), but for that tone, and for me, it's worth it.

reedo35 · #16 11-01-2009, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatrus

The following is based on the R66 stainless steel.
There will always be people who dont like them, and people who love them. If you want to know what to expect, expect quite a rough string (but I dont see this a problem, as your fingers will toughen up). With a lot of growl and top end, they will lose their initial brightness fairly quickly, but they last a very long time before going dead. I would rate the tension on them at medium low to medium.

People will bring up fret wear when talking about them, and while the 66 may be worse than other strings, they still wont be in any way bad. All the horror stories of frets wearing out very quickly with Rotos are on vintage basses which have softer frets. .

I would have to agree with these views as they mirror my personal experience. I used them all the time years ago. I liked the brightness of the rotos, but was horrified at what they did to the frets on my vintage Fender. I switched to pressurewounds, and haven't looked back since.

bertbassplayer · #17 11-01-2009, 07:50 AM

I really like the tone I get from Rotosound Swing66s and Rotobass's when I first put them on... but was always disappointed with the sound I got from them 2-3 weeks later.

SquierBender · #18 11-01-2009, 08:07 AM

These sound great on a Jazz Bass. Im not sure about Laguana. Mabey if it has single coils.

Maiden Bass · #19 11-01-2009, 08:07 AM

OK, here's my opinion on Rotosounds. I used them starting in the early 80's. I played the A circuit throughout Florida and played lots of covers, so I needed a string that could sound like anything. About every 3 to 5 sets I would get a dead string and of course be pissed, so I started looking for other brands. I can tell you that I had top luthiers working on my basses including the old partners of Michael Tobias (in Orlando) and had to get fret dresses more often with those strings cause they did eat frets faster than other strings. I tried them again in the late 80s / early 90s and their quality had gone down because they had way more dead strings than in the past. Also today you have to realize that these are very cheap strings because they sell them in America at the same price as US made strings, yet have you looked at the dollar to pound conversion lately. These are very cheap strings and IMO are not as good as US made strings. I am now using Dunlop strings and have not found any dead strings, they do not eat your frets, and play and sound much better than any Rotosound that I have ever used.

hbarcat · #20 11-01-2009, 02:32 PM

I've tried the SH flats on two of my basses with totally different results. On my Ibanez RoadstarII with an EMG -P the strings don't sound good to me. I put a set on my Ibanez AEB and they sound fantastic. I've had them on for over a year and I love them. I really believe that strings are very particular about what bass they are installed on.