How do people like Rotosound Swing 66 strings?

[CruelGarfield]

I'd say they are worth the price, but I don't like the feel of them. Sound ok, but loses tone quite fast imo

 

[Lowbrow]

Played the Rotosound 66 steel rounds for decades and in later years switched to their nickel-plated rounds (66 LDN).
Only problem for me is they tend to lose their zing pretty quickly -- so more recently I switched to DR Sunbeams, which are like Rotosound RS66 LDN strings taken into the modern age. Vast improvement on the same theme and highly suggested.

 

[Michael Jewels]

They are my least favorite string.
When I bought 1975 Precision in 1976, it came with Fender flatwounds. After Having the bass a few months, I wanted to try Roundwounds, and Rotosound 66s were highly recommended in bass player magazine, and by a friend of mine.
I bought a set, and hated them.
Harsh to the touch, and very harsh to the ear in my opinion. Also, terrible finger noise.

I played them until I could afford another set of flats, and never used them again.

I prefer either dull/dark sounding rounds or flats.

Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats are my new, favorite string.
Flatwound sound and feel with almost roundwound sustain. They are less thumpy than most other flats, but this is fine with me.
To each their own.
Mike

 

[Gyver]

I started using them a few years ago on my P Bass, became my go-to string. Love them, I don't feel they loose their zing, maybe it's not what I want out of a string the way others do.

Agreed. I like them broken in.

 

[Vinny_G]

How do people like Rotosound Swing 66 strings?
Al dente.

Rotosound SB66 are the standard by which all other stainless steel roundwound strings are judged. Personally I love them, for objective and not so objective reasons. They are like crunchy peanut butter with just the right amount of salt.

 

[MustangWally]

I used to use Roto99's and they were great. Like 66's but with only the core going over the bridge. Very bright, live, in-your-face tone.

 

[Ductapeman]

I've used them and loved the sound of them since they first came available up here in about 1971 I think. I like the 66 and 665 sets on my Precisions and the77/775 (which I now cannot find) for my Jazzes.

 

[jwoiton]

I use the Rotosound LD66 warm/bright in the blue package on all of my basses. I think they sound great.

 

[DarkStar90]

The tone of Rotosound 66 strings is THE tone for a jazz bass. In my college days I tried every string i could. Rotosounds were cheap and sounded great, but wouldnt last long and were rough to the touch. But I've noticed that since Rotosound has used the foil wrap package (they used to use the paper envelope) the quality control has gotten better. Ive been using them for the past two years without any of the quality issues i used to experience. Some of those sets back then would go dead in a day. Ive also noticed that they may have changed the steel they were using before, because it no longer feels rough to the touch. I used to hate The feel of stainless steel strings to the point where i would rub vaseline on my picking fingers before playing. I dont no why, i just no longer feel the roughness they used to have. But i think rotosound revamped them a bit, now they are my go to string. They used to have silks at the ball end as well as the headstock side. I switched back to them after mostly nickels for years. I intend to continue using them, they just have THAT tone on a jazz bass.

 

[arbiterusa]

I use two and only two kinds of strings; Roto 66 and DR Hi-Beams.

 

[Roxbororob]

3 electric basses, Roto 66, Labella Flats, Ti Flats. Thats it thats all!

 

[light blue bass]

So you guys also love Dr hi beams. Ok, thanks for all this info!

 

[light blue bass]

3 electric basses, Roto 66, Labella Flats, Ti Flats. Thats it thats all!

You a big Jaco fan? (What bass player isn't...) I was just looking at your pfp.

 

[I-play-bass]

I picked up a set for my Ric 4004l and they're the first set I have bought. I played a bass with a fresh set ages ago in a guitar shop and I was immediately put off by the sticky feel they had.

I got this set because Rotos are what you put on a Ric, and honestly the stickyness was there, for like a half hour. Now I think they're okay. Definitely better than the Ernie ball strings I used to use, but not so good that I'm not gonna go try other brands once these wear out.

 

[Ric5]

How do people like Rotosound Swing 66 strings?

This used to be my goto strings … but when I switched to 5 string basses I found I didn't like their low B string

 

[Ric5]

there their they're

 

[LoTone]

I like them but I prefer the nickel plated version. The stainless steel version is like plucking on razor wire.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I thinking of changing my strings soon and would like to get some of the well known Rotosound strings. How have other people like them?

Without a doubt, these are the best sounding round wound strings in the universe.... for about an hour. Then they dim a bit and become fairly average after that. JMO.

 

[kbakerde]

So you guys also love Dr hi beams. Ok, thanks for all this info!

I never used the Hi Beams. But you can’t go wrong with DR’s either. I used the Sunbeams on my Warwicks and really like them. A friend of mine swears by the Lo-Riders.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Great clear tone. Their alleged rough feel and short life are completely overstated.