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How do people like Rotosound Swing 66 strings?
- Thread starter light blue bass
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- strings
For round wounds - which I don't care for, for all kinds of reasons - they are in the Top 5 list of Strings I Dislike Most. For me? Yes, they are among the coarsest feeling rounds I've ever played. And, yes, for me they tend to die much quicker than most other rounds - some of which, for me, can last over a year. Roto 66's? About 2 weeks - if that... And, that zingy finger noise? Among the worst I've ever played; it drives me stone nuts... When I get a new bass - used, or new-new - the strings that are on it, never make it much past the initial function check. Unless they're flats; in which case, they'll stay. But, if that Bass has Roto 66's on it? Don't blink, or you'll miss them disappearing- before the function check... Besides, any time I want bright and twangy? I have this;
All the zingy, twangy brightness you can stand (and then some). And, while the strings go dead just as quickly as Roto 66's; unlike the Rotos, those John Hearse Extra Long Steels stay zingy, bright and twangy - right up to the end...
All the zingy, twangy brightness you can stand (and then some). And, while the strings go dead just as quickly as Roto 66's; unlike the Rotos, those John Hearse Extra Long Steels stay zingy, bright and twangy - right up to the end...
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Interesting. I have found that they go dead more quickly than I remember. Color seems duller to me as well.
I should add that I do like the dead roto sound.
I have tried them; both the SS and nickel 45-105s. As is usual with rounds, I preferred the nickels. But, as far as rounds go? I thought they were pretty nice. Not in my Top 5 worst rounds... Some string store was closing them out, so I bought several sets on spec. I eventually replaced them (as usual) with flats, so I wound up giving the rest to a friend; who gave them to a friend that plays bass in cruise ship orchestras. I was told that he absolutely loved them - and so did the orchestra leader. So, they found a good home...
Love is not strong enough a word! Low Riders are great,too, but I ain’t changing my religion!
Is there an other brand than Rotosound? j/k
I have tried some other brands over the years and they were not bad or anything, but quality/sound balance was still the best with good old Rotosound swingbass string. The strings are fairly cheap and they are very durable, even after cooking (cleaning) them a dozen times. Also important, they are always on stock. I use a thin set and a single (0.030) G string is on stock everywhere, which is often not the case with other brands.
And the last few years I have started using the Rotosound Funkmaster strings that for my playstyle are even better than the swingbass sets.
I have tried some other brands over the years and they were not bad or anything, but quality/sound balance was still the best with good old Rotosound swingbass string. The strings are fairly cheap and they are very durable, even after cooking (cleaning) them a dozen times. Also important, they are always on stock. I use a thin set and a single (0.030) G string is on stock everywhere, which is often not the case with other brands.
And the last few years I have started using the Rotosound Funkmaster strings that for my playstyle are even better than the swingbass sets.
Just coook/boil the strings regularly or use some kind of degreaser on your strings that cleans them. After I have boiled my strings they sound as new again for a week or so.
I like them a lot once they break in for a couple of months. I really like that you can get them in .050 – .110 inch. That's a rare weight for round wounds, and highly preferable to me over .045 – .105 inch, which is the heaviest most rounds come.
I am not going to vote in the poll unless "there" is changed to "they're," and the OP decides to use punctuation consistently from option to option.
I am not going to vote in the poll unless "there" is changed to "they're," and the OP decides to use punctuation consistently from option to option.
I don't get this. Are you implying that Rotosounds collect more finger grease or something? The wounding around the string is the same with both brands right (both are roundwounds)? It's the finger grease that makes the string go dead so why would that be different with different brands?
I used them for a long time on a T-40.As others have said, I also liked them broken in, I would use them for months and months. I boiled a set a few times, and they came out bright but quickly returned to the broken in sound I preferred. I've since sold the T-40 and haven't used them since, though.
They sound great, but not for long. I ran them on my Ric for a long time, just got tired of the short life.
I used to love them when I first started, but then the price started going way up, my frets were getting worn down quickly because I had too heavy of a left hand, and Banner Thomas of Molly Hatchet turned me onto Dean Markley nickels and I liked them too, so since then I've used nickels exclusively, although it's been a long time since I used Markleys.
Sound great with the stainless steel, I now use D'adario Pro steels and they've become my fav.
But can't go wrong with Rotosounds as Jason Newsted and Steve Harris use em!
Should clarify Harris uses flats
But can't go wrong with Rotosounds as Jason Newsted and Steve Harris use em!
Should clarify Harris uses flats
Yea. The deal back in the 80’s was they were the brightest, supposedly hardest on frets. I started to get duds right out of the pack, when strings are that bright a dud really stands out. Haven’t tried them in at least 15 years so maybe they’re better now.
