New Strings Day - Rotosound Solo Bass 55

[ClassicJazz]

Well as to not totally trash SIT (they do make good strings), I contacted them and they were very responsive and got back to me right away. They are sending me some replacements. So 2 thumbs up for their support.

Yea, it happens. So looking forward to try them after I get the replacement strings.

 

[michael_t]

Well as to not totally trash SIT (they do make good strings), I contacted them and they were very responsive and got back to me right away. They are sending me some replacements. So 2 thumbs up for their support.

Was his name "Eddie Speedy" by any chance?

 

[ClassicJazz]

Just curious... How were the Foundations different from the Dunlop SBs in terms of feel? Stiffness/flexibility? Smoothness/roughness of surface texture?

The two were very close in regards to all you mentioned. The main difference I found is in the B string. While both are .125, I found the Dunlop not quite as floppy as the SIT.

 

[ClassicJazz]

Was his name "Eddie Speedy" by any chance?

I spoke to a Tim

 

[michael_t]

I spoke to a Tim

My communication with SIT was by email, and Eddie was very "speedy" in his responses. Someone who's living up to his name!

 

[michael_t]

Next week? NEXT WEEK?!?!

What patience.

"Next week" is here...

Solo Bass 55 40-100 with Super Steel 126B:

And here's the BB435 in "teal blue":

 

[michael_t]

A couple of things I observed during installation…

1. Total length of these strings are shorter than what I’m used to. D’A, DR and GHS are all around 49” - 51" in total length, while these are only 47.5”. This meant the D string was barely long enough for two wraps around the post without cutting any of it.
2. I cleaned them with an alcohol wipe before installation like I’m in the habit of doing with all new strings, and noticed there were black marks left on it from the factory gunk. Reminded me of D’A Chromes flats and Fender 9050 flats.

I do plan on spending some quality time with them all this week to break them in, so I can test them out in a live band setting next weekend.

 

[michael_t]

I don’t find them grabby or sticky at all. Actually they pretty much feel the same as some Dunlop Super Brights Nickel round wounds I have on my Fodera. Which is probably why I don’t mind the feel.

My initial impressions on the SB55 tend to agree with your assessment. They are not nearly as smooth and slick as the GHS Pressurewounds but they do feel smoother than any stainless steel rounds I've tried in the past. They do feel very much like rounds but more like nickel than stainless steel, and no unpleasant stickiness like the SIT Silencers.

 

[michael_t]

Three days and three nights... That's how long the SB55 stayed on my BB435.

And here's what's left of them.

I was hoping for a stainless steel tone without the stainless steel feel. "Pressurewound" or not, they felt just like any SS rounds I've tried in the past. This simply shows I'm a nickel guy at heart. Man of steel I ain't.

I just installed a set of GHS Bassics 40-102 (NPS roundwound) and they actually feel smoother and slicker than the SB55. Kept the Super Steel 126B, which matches well tonally with the Bassics.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Very much looking forward to your reviews of 45-65-80-100 Swing Bass and 40-60-80-100 Monel Flats

 

[michael_t]

Very much looking forward to your reviews of 45-65-80-100 Swing Bass and 40-60-80-100 Monel Flats

Nothing against anything coming out of the UK, but Rotosound is not for me.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Nothing against anything coming out of the UK, but Rotosound is not for me.

Very much fair enough. But for the record, the nickel-plated Roto Bass are physically a lot more charming than the 66 and 77 ranges!

 

[markanini]

Three days and three nights... That's how long the SB55 stayed on my BB435.

And here's what's left of them.

View attachment 5028575

I was hoping for a stainless steel tone without the stainless steel feel. "Pressurewound" or not, they felt just like any SS rounds I've tried in the past. This simply shows I'm a nickel guy at heart. Man of steel I ain't.

I just installed a set of GHS Bassics 40-102 (NPS roundwound) and they actually feel smoother and slicker than the SB55. Kept the Super Steel 126B, which matches well tonally with the Bassics.


View attachment 5028584

Funny how our journeys are opposite, Roto Solos made me realize I like SS rounds. Though I've come realize it's a string type that might not come off in the best light with passive JJ or PJ setups.

 

[trothwell]

I've tried the 55 set a few times, and while I was very happy with the sound, I found them too rough feeling. Honestly, I find the 66 set more comfortable than the 55! I presume they really are, technically, "pressurewound" in some sense, but they don't feel that way to me.

Nothing against anything coming out of the UK, but Rotosound is not for me.

I'm surprised you didn't want to try the Ultramag set! Definitely smoother than both the 55 and 66, in my opinion.

 

[michael_t]

I've tried the 55 set a few times, and while I was very happy with the sound, I found them too rough feeling. Honestly, I find the 66 set more comfortable than the 55! I presume they really are, technically, "pressurewound" in some sense, but they don't feel that way to me.

This is exactly why I'm done with them. "Pressurewound" or not, they didn't provide the smooth feel I was looking for.

I'm surprised you didn't want to try the Ultramag set! Definitely smoother than both the 55 and 66, in my opinion.

The Ultamags did intrigue me for a while as a viable alternative to the GHS Progressives when they first came out. But I eventually decided I was perfectly content with the GHS Pressurewounds, which provide a perfect blend of the tone and the feel I'm quite happy with.

 

[jglunt]

I just noticed several references in this thread noting the different winding materials between the Rotosound 55 Pressurewounds and the GHS Pressurewounds. While it's true they're different, the winding material on the GHS is not nickel, but Alloy 52. That's the same material used in Rotosound Nexus and UltraMag strings.

 

[michael_t]

I just noticed several references in this thread noting the different winding materials between the Rotosound 55 Pressurewounds and the GHS Pressurewounds. While it's true they're different, the winding material on the GHS is not nickel, but Alloy 52. That's the same material used in Rotosound Nexus and UltraMag strings.

Rotosound Solo Bass 55 = Stainless Steel.

GHS Pressurewound = Nickel-Iron Alloy (aka Alloy 52 as in 52% nickel).

SIT Silencers = Nickel-plated Steel.

 

[jglunt]

Exactly right.

 

[Mike Vee]

Very much fair enough. But for the record, the nickel-plated Roto Bass are physically a lot more charming than the 66 and 77 ranges!

Yaa, I don't like rounds but 66 nickels keep me intrigued. I always take them off, but then I want them back again. What we need are 77 NICKELS. That would be the PERECT "round" string. Would feel a lot like TIs without the oddly smooth D and G string.

 

[jglunt]

Yaa, I don't like rounds but 66 nickels keep me intrigued. I always take them off, but then I want them back again. What we need are 77 NICKELS. That would be the PERECT "round" string. Would feel a lot like TIs without the oddly smooth D and G string.

For some reason, nickel-wound flats are rare. TI, of course, and I think Pyramid offers nickel flatwounds, but at about the same price as TIs, if I remember right. (There's no guarantee of that!)