I've been using the Rock master 100/40 set for a while now, bright and last a good while. Started using the 5 string set on my Skyline and quite happy with those too.
They're great...for 4-string. However, I've found two things: 1. The standard set does not have a long enough winding length to reach the nut on a 35" scale. 2. The string tension on the extended-length set is almost painful. A .125 Rock Master feels like a .135 by any other manufacturer. They're so tight that I can't have very high action while using them if I want any speed at all, and since I like to have some variation in my finger attack (I also use a pick from time to time) I get into Buzz City. I played a brand new BSR-J fiver at Bass Central about 5 months back. The Swami said that the first thing he did whenever he got a Smith is take the Smith strings off and replace them with Spectors. He said that a lot of other Smith dealers do that.
I love 'em. I've used them exclusively for years...even before I owned a Smith bass. Every time I try something else, I regret it and go right back. Now I buy them in bulk and forget about experimentation...these are it for me.
Smith Rockmasters are definitely for me (on my Rapture, anyway). Very bright at first, you have to be a little careful with your technique to not get noises. Pretty soon though, they just sound freaking huge. Even dead, they sound pretty sweet. I went months with my old set when I moved here, looking in at every music store I passed, hoping they'd have some, until finally last week I found a store that sells them. I could potentially just order them from Ken Smith, at two 5-string sets for $50, I think. But I wanted to find a place locally for when I'm in a crunch.
