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D'addario Chromes or Rotosound SM77's?

TjMetalhead

TjMetalhead

Oct 19, 2011
686
833
New Mexico
#1
I've been curious about the rotosounds for a while. Lately I've been using D'addario ECB84 set, .40-.100. They sound great, but I'm looking for a set of flats with a little more bite. I've heard from other users that the rotosounds have a roundwound sound at first. They sell a light gauge set that are the same size as the D'addarios and the total tension is 6lbs in difference (Chromes 172lbs, Rotos 178lbs). Another great perk as that the rotos are selling $12 cheaper than the d'addarios online. Are the rotosounds worth looking into?
 
#2
I would agree that the Roto flats are a bit more bite at first.....
The LaBella flats are punchy and warm...
The trick I do with the Roto flats is I hammer down slightly with the right hand fingers...this bounces the string off the fret, thus producing a bell like attack with the flats...
 
#3
cerrem said:
I would agree that the Roto flats are a bit more bite at first.....
The LaBella flats are punchy and warm...
The trick I do with the Roto flats is I hammer down slightly with the right hand fingers...this bounces the string off the fret, thus producing a bell like attack with the flats...
Click to expand...
Luckily I have a fairly light touch when playing. How do you like the rotos? I tried La Bella low tensions and while I liked how smooth and flexible they were the tone was too mellow and cloppy for my tastes.
 
#5
cerrem said:
Bass on what you describe ....your light touch and the tensions you like and tone..
I highly recommend the following strings..
Thomastik JF344 Flatwound Long Scale 4-String Jazz Bass Strings
Click to expand...
Hmmm I've heard of those and was curious about them, but I've heard they have a mellow tone and they are way way too expensive for my budget. I can't justify spending $80 on a set of strings.
 
#7
I have chromes on a p
and rotos on a j

once they are both broken in, I prefer the sound of the chromes, and I am primarily a jazz player

ACtually thinking of going back to ghs flats on the j

but roto tapes are my thing right now---those are amazing--just a bit of tone knob works wonders with em either way
 
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#10
shawshank72 said:
Rotos have bite at first but mellow out quickly.
If you want more bite in a flatwound I would suggest Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds.
Click to expand...
I don't mind that, I prefer the sound of flats as they age. I've tried the ernie ball cobalts last year and I'm mixed. They did sound pretty good on a jazz bass but absolute crap on my Sterling Ray. I've had issues with EB's quality control. I got a set with the E & A rusted. Tried contacting EB about it and they never got back to me.
 
#11
Once broken in, I don’t notice a whole lot of difference between Roto 77, Chromes, or Fender 9050. They all sound great IMO. EB cobalts definitely step up the zing factor if you want RW sounds from flats. I don’t care for them but some folks love them. For more highs and definition there’s nothing like TI jazz flats. I got them for $60 on Amazon; not cheap but they supposedly last forever.
 
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#13
Ha, I thought this thread was almost dead. I ended up sticking with the chromes, they feel and sound the best. Had issues with EB cobalts and too scooped for my taste. I tried the pressure wounds last month and didn't care for them, had kinda gravely tone that didn't work for me.
 
#16
TjMetalhead said:
Wow! That was a really great demo, just the sound I was looking for. Well, maybe later on this summer. I can't quite afford these strings yet but once I get some stuff paid off I'll definitely take a look at these.
Click to expand...

I have TIs on several things. Mostly Pbasses--one is a real 1958 Precision and the other a 1963. TIs sound nothing like this guy's sound on anything I've eve had or tried them on. His must be brand new. It's been a long time since I've had new TIs (because they last forever), but once the bright wears off--they thump with some extra mids, unique and all their own.
 
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#17
TjMetalhead said:
I've been curious about the rotosounds for a while. Lately I've been using D'addario ECB84 set, .40-.100. They sound great, but I'm looking for a set of flats with a little more bite. I've heard from other users that the rotosounds have a roundwound sound at first. They sell a light gauge set that are the same size as the D'addarios and the total tension is 6lbs in difference (Chromes 172lbs, Rotos 178lbs). Another great perk as that the rotos are selling $12 cheaper than the d'addarios online. Are the rotosounds worth looking into?
Click to expand...
Bite from the SM77? Nope .. my LaBella DTF 760FL have more of it
 
#18
Bumping a 3½ year old thread to disagree with a post.....

giphy.webp
 
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