I've had a few sets of these. Given the total tension, the feel is remarkably un-noodle-y. It's frustrating that Swing Bass aren't available in that 35-55-75-95 set
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Rotosound FM66 Funk Master strings
- Thread starter nirvanajunkie
- Start date
I thought the same, as they do have a 35-90 set! Almost like they wanted the Roto Bass to be special in gauge availability. Hope they worked out well for you in the past.
Finally got around to trying them the Rotosound funkmaster today. They are great roundwounds! And perhaps it's my gear, but on neutral, without boosting bass, they are *plenty* bassy and big. Lots of low frequency content, plus welcome clarity. I see no weaknesses other than you have to raise the action by a little bit, even with a light touch. Using them on a bass with a pair of Nordstrand Big Singles.
Not for heavy handed playing or hard picking, but I am glad that for me, they are awesome. Also, they are not as loose as I thought either-easily bendy, but not as floppy/relaxed as a similar gauge would be on a short scale bass (for obvious reasons.) The longer scale keeps them from being "rubber bands"-though I suppose that with a very heavy hand, you can make them buzz and rattle too much. They are definitely not an universal fit, but if they work what you do, truly great!
They replaced a nice and harmonically rich set of 40-100 Hyper Slinky-less ringing harmonic content, but the usual Rotosound mid-attack that I am used to with the BS66 set got added, with even less stiffness.
About the only con I could think about is that people used to setting up heavier strings closer to the fretboard may find them more difficult to adapt. It is a matter of changing the setup and the way you play.
I am not a slapper, but the funkmaster set nonetheless works for me because of the way I play finger style very often, allowing me a clear attack by bouncing the string off the frets per note (as needed), for lots of clarity and definition. Changing the angle is enough to play "normally", but I love how effortless it is to play fingerstyle with them.
If you do not mind playing less aggressively, or if you are already used to lighter gauges, I would definitely recommend these strings, even if you do not slap frequently. Coming from 45-105 or higher, it may be a shock at first, but from 40-100 to 30-90, I was expecting looser strings, and the difference is obvious, but not worlds apart. They sound like Roto 66s! But clearer, and despite them being thinner, without losing bottom end (at least with my Big Singles Cort bass.)
They are not flimsy, not "all treble", etc. These are underrated I suppose due to the low tension, and it *is* low, but there isn't anything wrong with that-not *necessarily*.
Oddly enough, the silk was too long for the D string-not that it matters.
I do not change Roto 66s as soon as possible as many do, preferring to use them for a decent while, so life span won't be a problem for me. Very surprising and exciting strings, was going to try Roto Bass 35 afterwards, but I think these are a great match for this particular bass!
Not for heavy handed playing or hard picking, but I am glad that for me, they are awesome. Also, they are not as loose as I thought either-easily bendy, but not as floppy/relaxed as a similar gauge would be on a short scale bass (for obvious reasons.) The longer scale keeps them from being "rubber bands"-though I suppose that with a very heavy hand, you can make them buzz and rattle too much. They are definitely not an universal fit, but if they work what you do, truly great!
They replaced a nice and harmonically rich set of 40-100 Hyper Slinky-less ringing harmonic content, but the usual Rotosound mid-attack that I am used to with the BS66 set got added, with even less stiffness.
About the only con I could think about is that people used to setting up heavier strings closer to the fretboard may find them more difficult to adapt. It is a matter of changing the setup and the way you play.
I am not a slapper, but the funkmaster set nonetheless works for me because of the way I play finger style very often, allowing me a clear attack by bouncing the string off the frets per note (as needed), for lots of clarity and definition. Changing the angle is enough to play "normally", but I love how effortless it is to play fingerstyle with them.
If you do not mind playing less aggressively, or if you are already used to lighter gauges, I would definitely recommend these strings, even if you do not slap frequently. Coming from 45-105 or higher, it may be a shock at first, but from 40-100 to 30-90, I was expecting looser strings, and the difference is obvious, but not worlds apart. They sound like Roto 66s! But clearer, and despite them being thinner, without losing bottom end (at least with my Big Singles Cort bass.)
They are not flimsy, not "all treble", etc. These are underrated I suppose due to the low tension, and it *is* low, but there isn't anything wrong with that-not *necessarily*.
Oddly enough, the silk was too long for the D string-not that it matters.
I do not change Roto 66s as soon as possible as many do, preferring to use them for a decent while, so life span won't be a problem for me. Very surprising and exciting strings, was going to try Roto Bass 35 afterwards, but I think these are a great match for this particular bass!
glad you like them! I'm still a big fan of the Funkmaster but I'm using the 40-100 SM66 gauge as a middle-way.
Most certainly love them -this morning, took my bass out to feel them under my fingers again, to see if it was just a honeymoon period, but they felt even better, and every note comes out cleanly without effort. They have a bit more of the usual Roto snarl, and lose VERY little with my gear and favorite choice of pickup balance. Definitely not wimpy strings, IMO, and more than "just good enough."
Thanks for discussing them back then! I still use my BS66 set on other three basses I love, and do not plan to switch them to the funkmaster, but I do feel these are ideal for my Cort, and also because I have been using lighter and lighter tension strings as of late, without issues. The 40-100 Roto 66s must be awesome and very bitey!
Finally trying one of these nickel plated Roto Bass 35 sets, switching a Squier parts bass' BS66 strings with them, just to try them out. As you stated, wished a Rotosound Stainless Steel 35-95 set was also available, but I bet these will sound no less than very good due to the low tension but still solid feel, as I understand you put it. The pickup is a thick and loud one (DiMarzio Split P), so there's no way they will sound thin (been having great experiences with the funkmaster set in two other basses-I feel the complain of light gauges sounding "weak" is somewhat overstated, but each to their own, of course!) Since they are rather light, I am almost certain they will be bright enough, "despite" the nickel windings. Looking forward to trying them out soon.
