Mystery Strings? Mystery Measurements?

[Thunderthumbs73]

It's been a long time since I replaced the strings on a particular 4-String Precision Bass Special. The strings have red windings at both ends. The ball ends have solid brass type ends- not a color-coded detail. I was looking online for "Electric Bass Red String Windings" and permutations on that. It seems I've come up with Rotosound as the possible and maybe likely brand. The model seems to be "Swing Bass 66" in a reddish-orange packaging because when I look at other Rotosound string packages, I don't recognize those model names or those packaging colors at all.

I'm no expert on micrometers but the measurements, with my best ability to measure them are:

E: 2.43 mm
A: 1.94 mm
D: 1.49 mm
G: 1.11 mm

Using an online converter, which I have no reason to believe would be error prone (because math is math):
E: .095 Inch
A: .076 Inch
D: .058 Inch
G: .043 Inch

That does not translate to any string package or string sets I've ever seen. If it's a likely premise that these are in fact, Rotosound Swing Bass 66 strings (RS66LC), the diameters of the strings should be:

E: 95
A: 75
D: 60
G: 40

Now to the question: Did I measure wrong, or are the differences between what I measured with a calibrated, good micrometer off, OR are the diameters of the strings slightly varied and approximate in both their actual diameter as well as advertized specifications?

Ps: Because I am interested in using this bass tomorrow for a gig, and it's been so long since I've gigged with it, I'll probably just boil the strings to freshen up the brilliance of the strings, and I really don't have the time to run out to the music store to buy these, if in fact the store still carries them at all. Also, I keep an Excel chart now on what guitars and basses are strung with what strings, and when they were newly-installed by date, so moving forward, I'll add the new string detail for this bass to my Excel chart, and would never need to ask or try to reverse-engineer string details to clarify what's already on it, to try to replace them with like kind when that time comes again.

Thanks for reading.

 

[HaphAsSard]

It's been a long time since I replaced the strings on a particular 4-String Precision Bass Special. The strings have red windings at both ends. The ball ends have solid brass type ends- not a color-coded detail. I was looking online for "Electric Bass Red String Windings" and permutations on that. It seems I've come up with Rotosound as the possible and maybe likely brand. The model seems to be "Swing Bass 66" in a reddish-orange packaging because when I look at other Rotosound string packages, I don't recognize those model names or those packaging colors at all.

I'm no expert on micrometers but the measurements, with my best ability to measure them are:

E: 2.43 mm
A: 1.94 mm
D: 1.49 mm
G: 1.11 mm

Using an online converter, which I have no reason to believe would be error prone (because math is math):
E: .095 Inch
A: .076 Inch
D: .058 Inch
G: .043 Inch

That does not translate to any string package or string sets I've ever seen. If it's a likely premise that these are in fact, Rotosound Swing Bass 66 strings (RS66LC), the diameters of the strings should be:

E: 95
A: 75
D: 60
G: 40

Now to the question: Did I measure wrong, or are the differences between what I measured with a calibrated, good micrometer off, OR are the diameters of the strings slightly varied and approximate in both their actual diameter as well as advertized specifications?

Ps: Because I am interested in using this bass tomorrow for a gig, and it's been so long since I've gigged with it, I'll probably just boil the strings to freshen up the brilliance of the strings, and I really don't have the time to run out to the music store to buy these, if in fact the store still carries them at all. Also, I keep an Excel chart now on what guitars and basses are strung with what strings, and when they were newly-installed by date, so moving forward, I'll add the new string detail for this bass to my Excel chart, and would never need to ask or try to reverse-engineer string details to clarify what's already on it, to try to replace them with like kind when that time comes again.

Thanks for reading.

It may well be a pre-2014 (brass ball-ends, pre- colour-coding) RS66LC. Yes, there are both tolerances and sometimes consistent discrepancies between official and actual gauges. See here:

Real Gauge of Bass Strings - real gauge vs advertised gauge​

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

It may well be a pre-2014 (brass ball-ends, pre- colour-coding) RS66LC. Yes, there are both tolerances and sometimes consistent discrepancies between official and actual gauges. See here:

Real Gauge of Bass Strings - real gauge vs advertised gauge​

I suspect you're right about the string age, lol. Thanks so much for the clarification regarding discrepancies between official and actual gauges. I'm going to take a look at that link.

I don't think I'm super-picky about string gauges, but since I'm borrowing a friend's micrometer, I decided to see how the strings measured, since I like their feel and setup on this particular bass, and I think the original packaging which I do tend to keep, btw, got thrown away a long time ago. Thanks again!

 

[HaphAsSard]

I suspect you're right about the string age, lol.

Oops, I meant to say 2016. Or, at least, that's the approximate timeframe for the switch to colour-coded ball ends by Rotosound, according to forum-search results that mentioned it.
[Here's a little summary of the recent evolution of Roto Jazz Bass 77 flatwounds (which share the same silk colour as the Swing Bass 66 stainless-steel rounds) in terms of wraps and appendages.]

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Oops, I meant to say 2016. Or, at least, that's the approximate timeframe for the switch to colour-coded ball ends by Rotosound, according to forum-search results that mentioned it.
[Here's a little summary of the recent evolution of Roto Jazz Bass 77 flatwounds (which share the same silk colour as the Swing Bass 66 stainless-steel rounds) in terms of wraps and appendages.]

That is interesting. I'll take a look at that too, when I get a chance.

Whatever the year, they are by far not my oldest strings. My oldest set is from 1994 on an old but great Precision Bass copy. And they've never been taken off the bass since 1994... Ken Smith Slapmaster Ultralight .030-.090...