Rotosound RS77 LE review

[clansman1970]

So, since I've been using these strings for a year and half I decided to review them.
At the beginning I would like to say that these are very same strings as Rotosound SH77 (Steve Harris's signature) except for the silk at the end of the strings.
First of all they are little bit pricey, but considering these are flatwounds, it's rather expected. Second thing to mention is the tension which is enormous compared to other 4-string sets; about 114kg and that is quite a lot, thus you better have a rock solid neck to keep it straight.
On the other hand, the tension is rewarding in even less fret noise and the strings aren't fooling around while playing which is always a plus in my book.
When I first put them on I thought of roundwounds because the sound was very bright; lot of bottom end, lot of midrange, decent treble with beautiful clarity in each tone and decent sustain. However after a month and half all strings sound pretty much dead - less bottom end, lot of midrange, less treble and you have standard flatwound tone.
The feel is silky smooth - E and A are little bit rough compared with D and G which are completely flat.
The overal rating is very positive and I highly recommend them for all bass players.
Pros:
- sound
- feel
- silk on both sides
Cons:
- price
- dead sound after few weeks

 

[michael_t]

Thanks for the review.

What styles of music do you play? Do you play with fingers or with a pick?

 

[trothwell]

You say they sound dead after a few weeks, and also that you have been using them for a year and a half.

Same set for a year and a half? Or do you change every few weeks?

 

[BrentSimons]

So, since I've been using these strings for a year and half I decided to review them.
At the beginning I would like to say that these are very same strings as Rotosound SH77 (Steve Harris's signature) except for the silk at the end of the strings.
First of all they are little bit pricey, but considering these are flatwounds, it's rather expected. Second thing to mention is the tension which is enormous compared to other 4-string sets; about 114kg and that is quite a lot, thus you better have a rock solid neck to keep it straight.
On the other hand, the tension is rewarding in even less fret noise and the strings aren't fooling around while playing which is always a plus in my book.
When I first put them on I thought of roundwounds because the sound was very bright; lot of bottom end, lot of midrange, decent treble with beautiful clarity in each tone and decent sustain. However after a month and half all strings sound pretty much dead - less bottom end, lot of midrange, less treble and you have standard flatwound tone.
The feel is silky smooth - E and A are little bit rough compared with D and G which are completely flat.
The overal rating is very positive and I highly recommend them for all bass players.
Pros:
- sound
- feel
- silk on both sides
Cons:
- price
- dead sound after few weeksView attachment 4332081

I'm surprised they are dead unless you were playing a ton? They do lose some brightness but usually retain a nice high mid clank. Out of the package they are the brightest flatwounds I've played in my limited flatwound experience i.e. Ernie Ball, D'Addario, GHS. You are completely right about the tension though. Weak necks beware!

 

[clansman1970]

Thanks for the review.

What styles of music do you play? Do you play with fingers or with a pick?

In a band hard rock, at home anything I like (jazz, rock, heavy metal). I play with fingers

 

[clansman1970]

You say they sound dead after a few weeks, and also that you have been using them for a year and a half.

Same set for a year and a half? Or do you change every few weeks?

I changed them three times. The first set I had for about 9 months, second about 4 and I still play the third one. Naturally I use Darkglass B3K; few tweeks in it and it still sounds good, but the brightness and clarity of new one is irreplaceable.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I just came across this video, and this thread seemed the best place for it. Nothing in it that isn't exactly what is common knowledge, but it's good to hear proof.

Two sets of Rotosound 77 flats 50–75–95–110, one 15 months old, one fresh out the pack.



In the comments the guy says the fresh sound lasted about a week.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I just came across this video, and this thread seemed the best place for it. Nothing in it that isn't exactly what is common knowledge, but it's good to hear proof.

Two sets of Rotosound 77 flats 50–75–95–110, one 15 months old, one fresh out the pack.



In the comments the guy says the fresh sound lasted about a week.

Thanks! I've been wondering about how "dead" "dead" is supposed to be, as far as Roto flats go. The new ones sound spectacular (though I guess Chromes or Ernie Ball Slinky flats are the most sensible options if one wishes to have that tone for a while), but the old aren't half bad IMO. Plenty of sustain, not really old-school thumpy. (...Yet?)

 

[Ricky Rioli]

The new ones sound spectacular but the old aren't half bad IMO

When, in amongst all that Maiden, he does that old fashioned blues riff (5'40–6'00") they suddenly sound much the more appropriate

People often talk about ancient LaBellas, and similarly Chromes and GHS P flats, but I can't recall reading much about really old 77s, and nothing in glowing terms.

Here's another video of fresh 77s, this time a step down in gauges: 45-65-85-105 (RS77LD) Again they sound great, but in the comments the guy says he found them too hard on his fingers.



I'm still trying to find a decent demo of the 40-60-80-100 (SM77)

 

[HaphAsSard]

I'm still trying to find a decent demo of the 40-60-80-100 (SM77)

Word. The only video sample I've found so far is this short one, where the Rotosound SM77 are compared to the Thomastik-Infeld JF344:


The segments are apparently shown in the order in which the player had the strings on the bass, so (beside the difference in gain mentioned in the description, in part due to the pureish nickel on the TIs being more magnetically active than Monel) the 40-100 Rotos are not new. They're not super-dead, either, again maintaining decent sustain and a little residual bite (as far as the lowest two at least: the G in particular seems to be tamer - even the one from the new Harris set in your first video exhibits this trait).

 

[trothwell]

When, in amongst all that Maiden, he does that old fashioned blues riff (5'40–6'00") they suddenly sound much the more appropriate

People often talk about ancient LaBellas, and similarly Chromes and GHS P flats, but I can't recall reading much about really old 77s, and nothing in glowing terms.

Here's another video of fresh 77s, this time a step down in gauges: 45-65-85-105 (RS77LD) Again they sound great, but in the comments the guy says he found them too hard on his fingers.



I'm still trying to find a decent demo of the 40-60-80-100 (SM77)

I like the sound very much, but even in that light gauge, they are wearisome on my fingers. For me, I'm with other flats. I wish Rotosound made a yet lighter set. I imagine 77s are easier to play with a pick, but i usually don't use a pick.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I wish Rotosound made a yet lighter set.

Not the cheapest course of action, but you could try getting the RS77LE or the SH77; then discarding the 110; moving the rest (050-075-095) up one slot; adding a single 035 high C, to be tuned down to G.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Rotosound flats are available individually, but unfortunately they don't offer all the gauges, just

30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ... 60, 65, ... 75, 80, 85, ... 95, 100, 105, 110

— so 35-55-75-95 is impossible

 

[trothwell]

Rotosound flats are available individually, but unfortunately they don't offer all the gauges, just

30, 35, 40, 45, 50, ... 60, 65, ... 75, 80, 85, ... 95, 100, 105, 110

— so 35-55-75-95 is impossible

Hmmmm...

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Another demo of the 45-105 set, a more muscular style of playing this time

 

[Root 5]

So, since I've been using these strings for a year and half I decided to review them.
At the beginning I would like to say that these are very same strings as Rotosound SH77 (Steve Harris's signature) except for the silk at the end of the strings.
First of all they are little bit pricey, but considering these are flatwounds, it's rather expected. Second thing to mention is the tension which is enormous compared to other 4-string sets; about 114kg and that is quite a lot, thus you better have a rock solid neck to keep it straight.
On the other hand, the tension is rewarding in even less fret noise and the strings aren't fooling around while playing which is always a plus in my book.
When I first put them on I thought of roundwounds because the sound was very bright; lot of bottom end, lot of midrange, decent treble with beautiful clarity in each tone and decent sustain. However after a month and half all strings sound pretty much dead - less bottom end, lot of midrange, less treble and you have standard flatwound tone.
The feel is silky smooth - E and A are little bit rough compared with D and G which are completely flat.
The overal rating is very positive and I highly recommend them for all bass players.
Pros:
- sound
- feel
- silk on both sides
Cons:
- price
- dead sound after few weeksView attachment 4332081

The "dead sound" is what many of us crave in our flatwounds!

 

[TeresaFR]

I usually play the standard gauge Roto flats, but just ordered some of the heavy gauge flats for playing in D standard, which I imagine will be under less tension than if they were tuned in E standard - judging by the tension chart someone on BC directed me towards. Yeah, sometimes I find playing flats for prolonged periods can be tiring but they feel so much better than rounds, which just feel harsh in comparison.

 

[michael_t]

I usually play the standard gauge Roto flats, but just ordered some of the heavy gauge flats for playing in D standard, which I imagine will be under less tension than if they were tuned in E standard...

Roto 77 Flats...

50-110 in EADG = 253.01 lbs. in total tension.
50-110 in DGCF = 200.44 lbs.

45-105 in EADG = 214.41 lbs.
40-100 in EADG = 178.57 lbs.

 

[TeresaFR]

Roto 77 Flats...

50-110 in EADG = 253.01 lbs. in total tension.
50-110 in DGCF = 200.44 lbs.

45-105 in EADG = 214.41 lbs.
40-100 in EADG = 178.57 lbs.

Thanks, good to know. That likely brings the tension back towards that of the nickel rounds the bass in question came fitted with, so I know for sure I'm not going to break the neck.

 

[poochiecheeks]

The standard 105-45 77 set is absolutely perfect for D standard, comparable tension to the 110-50 66 set in D standard. I use both interchangably