RotoSound Flats and a 54P Warmoth

[Eddie Jones]

I have a Warmoth 54P build that I absolutely love. The playability is awesome. The True Custom pickup is sublime. It is currently strung with Ken Smith Bass Burners, which sound good, however I think this bass deserves flats. I just ordered Roto Jazz 77 Monel 45-105. Do you guys think they will play nicely together?

 

[J-Bass RMR]

I do like the Roto 77s.
I think they'll be pretty "snarly" in a good way with a SCPB.
Let us know!

 

[Jason Hollar]

The Roto flats 45 gauge are pretty thick and taut - not bad if you’re a blues, roots rock, or swing jazz player.

I’ve come to enjoy the 40 gauge as they have the same aggressive thump with slightly better intonation for upper register chords and solos. Enjoy!

 

[Jason Hollar]

Update: I’ve been trying some different sets of flats on my 2012 USA Fender P but just put on a set of the Roto 77 45’s … wow I forgot how powerful these were!

 

[Eddie Jones]

Post office lost my package. Will post a review once I actually get them

 

[Killing Floor]

I think the 77s are great. They break in and keep a lot of chug. Really nice tone if you like the tension. I like them better than Chromes but that’s my dumb opinion.

 

[Eddie Jones]

I think the 77s are great. They break in and keep a lot of chug. Really nice tone if you like the tension. I like them better than Chromes but that’s my dumb opinion.

I like the chug. And with higher tension, I can set the action really low with no clank or clang

 

[GIBrat51]

I had the Roto 77LD's on my '78 Fender P-Bass for many, many years. If I hadn't decided that I wanted the bass to sound as original as possible (it would have worn Fender's Squier Flats from the factory), they'd probably still be on the thing. But, turns out that GHS Precision Flats are about as close as anyone can come to the originals ("GHS" is the initials of 3 guys who used to work for Squier strings), so... that's what it wears now. And I'm happy. But... yeah; give them a try, by all means. I had the 4 heavy strings from a 5 string set of them on a BEAD strung bass for several years; worked a treat. I also had them on the '18 Gibson T-bird I sold last year - and loved them. Definitely didn't sell it because of the Rotos...

 

[Eddie Jones]

Well, I got them. First impressions are..I like the tension. I was able to lower string height to a whisper off the fretboard with no buzzing or clang. I actually raised it just a bit to compensate for my playing when I dig in. Contrary to some reports, they felt super smooth to my fingers. Out of the package, they have some zing that I tamed by rolling off the tone control. Once I did that, the notes simply bloomed and sounded so full and detailed. Not muted at all. No mud. I have read here that they tend to mellow and age gracefully. They are total opposite of the TI flats on my jazz bass, but I dare say, I may end up liking them just as well if not more. I really love the sound and playability. To my ears, as they are now, they seem to be the best combination of why players buy flats. I did notice the output was lower than some of the other flats I have, (EB Cobalt flats, D'Addario Chromes) but a quick twist of a volume knob and I was in business. I know most people rave about things they have just bought, but in the case of these strings, they seem to be the real real deal. They are going to stay on the 54P for quite a while.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I’ve found previous sets of the Roto 77s would have various degrees of “smoothness”. I guess because they are essentially hand made, the ribbons and polishing can vary widely - even within one set.

The last batch I bought a coupla years ago I ended up buying three sets and going through and matching them for feel. This last set I put on was the “roughest” set … not unlike a half round or ground wound set.