Do Rotosounds really eat frets?

My Alembic Spoiler has had swing bass strings used on it since 1983. So far no fret issues. I suppose if you had a gorilla grip you may see more wear

 

Been using rotos since early 2008 on my Ibanez, No fret damage at all.

Liam

 

I think that's an old urban legend that has been floating around. I think Roto's were really the first SS strings of any populatity.
And being SS and frets being nickle-ish, the deduction was made that they will tear the frets up.

Throw them on and have no worries.

 

That's an old "Wife's tale" from back in the day. When Fender was using very soft metal for their frets, they didn't do well with *any* stainless steel strings, including rotos.

Anymore, frets are stronger and there are LOTS of stainless strings out there.

 

Using Rotos on my '59 P bass from 1971 through '73, I had to have it refretted after about 10 months of playing three nights a week. Used Rotos on my '72 Rick 4001 and it showed some wear, but not nearly as much as the Fender, so I agree that Fender probably used softer fret wire way back when. I haven't used Rotos enough lately to comment on how they affect frets on newer basses.

 

They sure eat my fingers.

 

they kill my fingers. it feels like i have rubber pads on the tips of my fingers when i play anything with those strings. but i don't know about frets

 

it's weird you say that, rotos don't eat my fingers at all, but flats do...

 

Only for breakfast.

 

Rotosounds never gave me finger or fret problems, and I used them for 10 years.

 

It's not an old wive's tale. Rotosound Swing Bass strings tore up the frets and fingerboard of my 1973 Rickenbacker 4001 during a 1975-76 tour. Perhaps Rickenbacker uses harder fretwire these days, but that bass was a scary mess at the end of that tour.

Mike

 

Used rotosounds swing 66 since the mid 1970's as main string brand, never had any significant fret wear. Those who are very heavy handed with their fretting and who grind the strings into frets and who use basses with soft frets may have sig fret wear over time with any roundwound stainless strings though. Significant fretboard wear would show up first though imo. Again mainly from heavy handed fretting and pressing strings into fretboard in a grinding fashion.

 

Same here! I had 2 70's Ric's and a mid-60's Jazz that all needed re-fretting within a relatively short period

 

Those and pretty much any stainless steel strings eat frets a bit. Personally I think your action has a lot to do with it, too. Having lower action causes them to bend on the frets more. My friend's Squier was unplayable after a year of using stainless steels in a metal band. (Ha.. Get it?)

 

Rotosound was the first round wound string and the story goes that Chris Squire influenced a lot of bassist to use Rotosounds and Rickenbacker 4001 basses. But, the early 4001 basses had soft material for frets and a lot of people were sending their Ricks back to Rickenbacker for repairs. Squire said when he finally went to the Rickenbacker plant, they took him to the repair room and showed him like 100 basses that need refretting. This was in Bass Player Mag. a few years back.

But stainless steel round wounds are a little harder on your frets than flatwounds people were using 40 some years ago.
I don't think Rotos eat frets more than any other ss string and I've been using them for years with no problems.

 

yes, they eat frets.... with a fine Chianti and some Fava beans.....FAFAFAFAFAFAF!!!

 

NO... I've used NOTHING but roundwound Rotosounds on my early 67 P bass for MORE than 30 years - my bass has never needed refretting, and the action is fabulous.

After decades of HEAVY use I recommend them without any reservation!!!!