I’ve never tried Roto’s. Their reputation for minimal quality control and ability to eat frets has dissuaded me. I’m not into bright fizzy strings anyway.
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Brand new dull E string
- Thread starter GED2112
- Start date
The thing about strings is either you like them or you hate them. And the only way to know whether you will like something is to try it. This can be costly with strings, considering the number of options. I have experienced 2 dead E strings, out of dozens of packs of Rotos (apparently it's always the E). I have also noticed this just recently started when they switched to the hermetically sealed packs (go figure). It hasn't been enough of an issue for me yet, but who knows in the future. I have been apprehensive about trying other brands, because I real like that Rotosound grind.
I’m sure there are other strings out ther with that same grind we like. I’m tired of wasting money on them. 15-20 years ago, I followed Billy Sheehan from Rotosond to Charlie Stringer Snarling Dogs. I just put my last set on 6 months ago and that day they were still brighter than the Rotosounds. In fact, I took off the two brand new, dead, Rotosound E Strings and put back the 20 year old Dog and guess what, infinity brighter.
Rotosound strings aren't suppose to be dead out the pack. this has been a quality issue thats been going on for decades. I've had strings so dead they sounded like flatwounds. buying Rotosounds is shooting dice. sometimes you'll get a pack with no dead strings
I guess it's time to resurrect this thread, it seems to be the most recent.
I bought a set of RS66LD 45-105 a couple of days ago and after installing them on my Jazz bass I noticed that the E string was somehow... different.
It sounds less defined compared to the other strings, to the point that I barely hear which note I'm playing when playing over some music. It's slightly muted and "woody" sounding (especially on the high register!) and it also has bad intonation, while the other strings are fine. Both my tuners seem to struggle catching the pitch, which never happened to me before.
Is this what you call a new "dead" string out of the package?
I bought a set of RS66LD 45-105 a couple of days ago and after installing them on my Jazz bass I noticed that the E string was somehow... different.
It sounds less defined compared to the other strings, to the point that I barely hear which note I'm playing when playing over some music. It's slightly muted and "woody" sounding (especially on the high register!) and it also has bad intonation, while the other strings are fine. Both my tuners seem to struggle catching the pitch, which never happened to me before.
Is this what you call a new "dead" string out of the package?
Hypercaffium, sadly yes that sounds 'dead'. The e should sound similar to the other strings.
A friend who was a hard-core 'gimme-Rotos-or-gimme-death' guy for decades and goes for the most in-your face sounds around (think Geddy, Entwistle) switched to DR Pure Blues a couple of years ago and couldn't be happier. Sounds the same to me.
I haven’t used RS66’s in decades, but I put a new set of them on my P-Bass a few weeks ago. No problems to report from me. However, the entire set doesn’t seem as crazy-bright as I remember RS66’s were “back in the day”.
Could it be my hearing? I pushing 60, so quite possibly. But IMO they still sound excellent.
If I recall correctly, way back when, their surface used to feel more abrasive, and there used to be “humps” in their windings. Their surface feels smoother and much more uniform. My guess is they’re easier on frets these days.
I really digging the sound of stainless steel roundwounds on my P-Bass after all of these years. I may try DR Pure Blues down the road on this bass. I’ve never tried any of DR’s strings before.
But first I want to try a set of GHS Super Steels, just to see, and hear how they compare to RS66’s, which just replaced a set of D’Addario Prosteels.
Different brands and styles of rounds do sound different, but not as much as simply putting on a new set... : D
Funny, I have a P bass with relatively fresh Pure Blues and a J with stainless steel Rotos and I was comparing the tones just yesterday (unplugged).
They are definitely different in both feel and sound. Pure Blues have just a little bit less tension, it's noticeable but not too much. Pure Blues are also warmer with less high end. If you dig hard or slap/pop you can make them snap pretty good but Rotos are in a different league in terms of treble. Even with brand new Pure Blues you can't get that piano tone of the Rotos.
Apart from the enthusiasm of playing with stainless steel strings again, I prefer Pure Blues. They're more balanced for my taste and more versatile for the kind of music I play.
I'll keep these Rotos until they die of course and enjoy them, but nickel rounds seeem to be more appropriate at least for my Jazz. I'll try some SS Rotos on my StingRay for sure, I think the match would be pretty good because it's my slap machine (among other things) and it has stainless steel frets.
Fresh RS66 are extremely bright and clanky, so I guess 1) it's your hearing or 2) they were brighter decades ago.
The same is for the feel. They're pretty rough, and that's coming from a guy with very sturdy hands. I don't mind them at all but man... they're definitely abrasive.
Pure Blues are nickel plated, not stainless steel. You should try Hi-Beams, Fat-Beams or Lo-Riders.
I've often wondered if I'd like DR Pure Blues? I may need to spring for a set.
A similar string to Roto 66s, IMHO, are Marcus Miller Dunlop Super Brights. Similar tone, better longevity in keeping that tone.
A similar string to Roto 66s, IMHO, are Marcus Miller Dunlop Super Brights. Similar tone, better longevity in keeping that tone.
To be honest, this has happened to me with other brands. For some reason, it was always with a 105 or higher, never with a 100 or less.
Buddy, I hear you but my friend was hard core and I mean HARD core, Rotos or nothing. For decades. For the gnarly, grindy sound. He gets that from Pure Blues and won't go back. Go figure.
I hear you too, but those strings are VERY different. I guess he dig very hard and somehow manage to get an aggressive grindy tone he likes, but nickel can't sound as bright and snappy as stainless steel.
Anyway, if you're friend is happy, we're happy too. Right?
Anyway, if you're friend is happy, we're happy too. Right?
