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Clearer Sounding Rotosound 66 Swingbass?

AlexMG

AlexMG

Aug 8, 2022
396
1,025
#1
Hi all!

I've been preferring to play my Thunderbirds over any other bass. They can sound so deep and growl with just the right strings. I've gone through all the threads I've found for recommendations and I'd still like to get some input on this. After having tried the Gibson Nickels, EB Cobalts, GHS Pressurewounds, Roto 66, and Optima Unique Golds, my two favorites are the Rotosound 66 and the Optima Unique golds.

The Thunderbird (G2 Simmons) I'm testing strings on is naturally very big and deep and dark sounding. Super strong fundamental. In comparison, a 2003 Bird I picked up from a member here is leaner and more brighter. Both are mahogany bodies and have ebony boards, stock pickups; really couldn't expect them to be more different.

These two strings (Roto 66 and Optima Unique Golds) are everything that I loved about the Thunderbird when I first got it new strung with the Gibson strings plus a tad brighter/less dull. The Rotos have the growl but I will say that they are less clear/defined than I would like. I recorded some noodling with the same settings on the same bass and the Rotos again proved to be less defined with this bass upon listening back.

On the other hand the Optima Unique Golds are everything the Roto 66s are and more, they would be PERFECT if not for two things:
1: I don't want the gold color on the Simmons Thunderbird
2:The Golds sound TOO big and round with the already big and deep woof of the Simmons TBird.

I saw this review and it mirrored my experience, I can't say how, but the tone is much much 'rounder' -- can't emphasize this enough.



I learned that the Golds are marketed as having a larger dynamic range so maybe I need to adjust technique but I'd still like to not have the gold strings for this bass. I may try the Optima Chromes next and hope it addresses all I'm looking for.

In the meantime, what other strings would you recommend as a clearer Roto 66 option for the Thunderbird?

Thanks!
 
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#2
Hmmm. With their top end, I don't know of any "clearer" strings than Roto Swingbass. For me, they were the epitome of clarity, precision, articulation, and tone for the application at the time, including compliments from the audio engineer of the national broadcast TV special I played. I suggest you try lowering the pickups slightly, as you may be getting some overload to the signal.
 
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#4
You might want to try the Roto 55s. These are pressurewound strings, which you would perhaps expect to be more or a "crossover" string, mellower than roundwounds and somewhere between rounds and flats tonally.

Not so with the Roto55s. They are far less "flat" than pressurewounds from other manufacturers. If I didn't know they were pressurewound I would probably have assumed they were regular roundwounds. Tonally they are quite similar to Roto 66s. They have the Roto brightness and the characteristic Roto-mids but slightly less "dirty" to my ears. They also seem to last longer than 66s. The general "feel" (stiffness/tension) is more or less like the 66s, maybe SLIGHTLY stiffer. Not as many gauges to choose from though...

They used to cost almost twice as much as the 66s (at least from the dealers I use) but I've seen them a lot cheaper from some dealers lately. They might be worth the try if you can find a set at a reasonable price. I currently have a set on my Epiphone Embassy which is more or less a T-bird with a different shape. I used to have Roto 66s on that bass but the 55s gave me slightly less "dirty" mids and a more focused tone. So I've stayed with the 55s on that bass ever since.

If you just want a bright/clear stainless steel tone there are lots of other options from other manufacturers of course but none of them will give you those unique Roto-mids.
 
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#5
eriky4003 said:
Nothing sounds like a fresh set of Roto 66s. Marcus Miller Dunlop Super Brights have a similar growl to my ears and seem to keep their tone longer. Another string to try would be DR Lo-Riders.
Click to expand...
I was about to suggest DR Nickel Low Riders. Hex core. Excellent solution for my HH Les Paul bass (nearest I have like a Tbird)
 
#6
I'm an "all in" swingbass player for years and years (I do have flats on another bass) but have often wondered about the Golds. ...If John Entwistle thought highly enough of them....

I understand the video you posted is to give an idea but he is comparing Golds against nickels. Nothing else sound like stainless 66s.

I think you have your own answer: "The Golds sound TOO big and round with the already big and deep woof of the Simmons TBird".
 
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#7
iiipopes said:
Hmmm. With their top end, I don't know of any "clearer" strings than Roto Swingbass. For me, they were the epitome of clarity, precision, articulation, and tone for the application at the time, including compliments from the audio engineer of the national broadcast TV special I played. I suggest you try lowering the pickups slightly, as you may be getting some overload to the signal.
Click to expand...

This is worth a try. :thumbsup:
 
#9
I used steels some years ago, but avoided them for years out of brightphobia. Got back into them and like SS on some basses. Sometimes on Thunderbirds. When I tried Rotos again, I didn't find them all that bright. Not like what I was hearing from from comments. Brighter than nickel for sure, but not crazy bright (which is subjective). But I'm using Ampeg tube heads which are pretty warm to begin with. I have found SIT Power Steels and their Dave Ellefson's to be pretty bright and very clear as well. Heard good things about the Dunlop's mentioned above as well. I'm sure you've tried changing your EQ, but mention it because some never touch their amp.

One thing I did with my '06 Thunderbird (very different from my '64, '76, Epi Vintage Pros, etc.) was to stop fighting the darker nature and go with that. The SIT PS sounded good on it but La Bella Black Nylons sound better than anything for my goals.

Might want to run your question by the folks here:
Thunderbird Club
 
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#10
dagrev said:
I used steels some years ago, but avoided them for years out of brightphobia. Got back into them and like SS on some basses. Sometimes on Thunderbirds. When I tried Rotos again, I didn't find them all that bright. Not like what I was hearing from from comments. Brighter than nickel for sure, but not crazy bright (which is subjective). But I'm using Ampeg tube heads which are pretty warm to begin with. I have found SIT Power Steels and their Dave Ellefson's to be pretty bright and very clear as well. Heard good things about the Dunlop's mentioned above as well. I'm sure you've tried changing your EQ, but mention it because some never touch their amp.

One thing I did with my '06 Thunderbird (very different from my '64, '76, Epi Vintage Pros, etc.) was to stop fighting the darker nature and go with that. The SIT PS sounded good on it but La Bella Black Nylons sound better than anything for my goals.

Might want to run your question by the folks here:
Thunderbird Club
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! I hear you on not fighting the dark nature of this beast. Actually I like it and am trying to compliment it. The rotos have almost everything except lacking definition on the lowest notes. The Optima golds solve that but I don’t want gold colored strings on this bass (aesthetically) they also sound a tad too big on an already big sounding bass.

what is it about the Labella Black Nylons you like?
 
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#11
AlexMG said:
Thanks for the input! I hear you on not fighting the dark nature of this beast. Actually I like it and am trying to compliment it. The rotos have almost everything except lacking definition on the lowest notes. The Optima golds solve that but I don’t want gold colored strings on this bass (aesthetically) they also sound a tad too big on an already big sounding bass.

what is it about the Labella Black Nylons you like?
Click to expand...
Modern Thunderbirds lack some mid definition/fullness I'm used to hearing from my '64, which I've had since 1981, so that's the gold standard of bass tone for me. Modern Thunderbirds, with the neck pickup being moved farther from the bridge tends to create a little more of a boomy, somewhat hollow sound compared to the originals, or even the late 70s versions. The tapes seem to tighten up what seems to my ear something of a loose sound by the neck pickup being in the "wrong" place. That may not make any sense, but that's about as well as I can describe it I think!
 
#12
AlexMG said:
Hi all!

I've been preferring to play my Thunderbirds over any other bass. They can sound so deep and growl with just the right strings. I've gone through all the threads I've found for recommendations and I'd still like to get some input on this. After having tried the Gibson Nickels, EB Cobalts, GHS Pressurewounds, Roto 66, and Optima Unique Golds, my two favorites are the Rotosound 66 and the Optima Unique golds.

The Thunderbird (G2 Simmons) I'm testing strings on is naturally very big and deep and dark sounding. Super strong fundamental. In comparison, a 2003 Bird I picked up from a member here is leaner and more brighter. Both are mahogany bodies and have ebony boards, stock pickups; really couldn't expect them to be more different.

These two strings (Roto 66 and Optima Unique Golds) are everything that I loved about the Thunderbird when I first got it new strung with the Gibson strings plus a tad brighter/less dull. The Rotos have the growl but I will say that they are less clear/defined than I would like. I recorded some noodling with the same settings on the same bass and the Rotos again proved to be less defined with this bass upon listening back.

On the other hand the Optima Unique Golds are everything the Roto 66s are and more, they would be PERFECT if not for two things:
1: I don't want the gold color on the Simmons Thunderbird
2:The Golds sound TOO big and round with the already big and deep woof of the Simmons TBird.

I saw this review and it mirrored my experience, I can't say how, but the tone is much much 'rounder' -- can't emphasize this enough.



I learned that the Golds are marketed as having a larger dynamic range so maybe I need to adjust technique but I'd still like to not have the gold strings for this bass. I may try the Optima Chromes next and hope it addresses all I'm looking for.

In the meantime, what other strings would you recommend as a clearer Roto 66 option for the Thunderbird?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you want a clearer sound I'd say try Ken Smith Rockmasters. They did exactly what you're asking for for me. You might like Dr loriders too. Another string that's refined and going to work for you would be Fodera stainless strings.
 
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