Rotosound RS77 LE review

[rickster4003]

I tried these awhile back and while they have a nice new tone the tension was very high which was a no go for me. Lucky I was able to trade these away. I enjoy EB cobalt flats and round wounds. They both have good longevity and the flats have comfortable tension.

 

[Swerve]

I'm trying these for the first time on a US Fender P. Big fan of Roto 66 SS's.

So far it's a mixed bag. They have a nice feel. The A & D strings sound great. The E string is really quiet and the G seems dead right off the bat. Not sure if they even out over time.

They are a bit bright but not more so than most new flatwounds.

Quite high tension. I can get the relief almost flat and the action really low without any buzzing. But you can forget about slapping these.

I know Roger Waters and Steve Harris are famous for using Roto flats, but those guys look like cavemen with cavemen hands so the tension probably isn't an issue.

I'll see how they fare at band rehearsal before casting them off.

 

[Pier_]

I'm using them since last August on a Jazz Bass, and tried a set on a Classic 50 Precision.

I don't feel them to be too heavy, in 45-105 gauge. just consider that the 45 G is actually a .050, as in the SH77 set the 50 G is a .055.

I find them "stiff", or "rigid", but I use them on that Jazz with ease and please, and I'm loving the sound they gave me after some breaking in.

this is a brand new set played with a pick, on my Classic 50': Dropbox - Macho Man - Precision Classic 50 - Roto Jazz77.mp3 - Simplify your life

this is a sample with the Jazz, strings just mounted: Dropbox - Harley Benton JB75 - mix riff - Rotosound RS77 (nuove).mp3 - Simplify your life

this one after some days practicing a gig in summer, with lot of sweat: Dropbox - Harley Benton JB75 - She Caught - Rotosound Jazz 77.mp3 - Simplify your life

on the Jazz they are brighter, but because the Jazz Bass is a brighter bass. on the P they are just full od mids and hi-mids, they reminded me immediately of the tone heard in Seventeen Seconds, by the Cure, and other punk and post-punk records where they were used.
when they age, they become more "soft sounding", and resemble the John Deacon's sound with flats, with that short and bouncy attack, still with the clarity of mids.

IMHO they are not bright as D'Addario Chromes or Fender 9050, they don't have the same spark on the highs, they have more presence in the mids, and lot of definition.

I do slap them I can set the action very low, and find them comfortable with both hands.

I do NOT search for a bright flatwound sound, it's not what they are meant to sound, IMHO, so I like them when they have aged a bit, and they are the most "cut-though-the-mix" flat ever.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I just installed a set of RS77LD 45-105 Flats on my Schecter Raiden Special-4. So far I’m really enjoying the feel and the low action I can get. Time will tell with the sound. As for the tension, yes, these are high tension. I’m playing at church on Sunday (three services, each with three songs) so we’ll see how I feel after that.

 

[MrAB4003]

Here's my review of the Rotosound 77s:
https://www.talkbass.com/reviews/rotosound-77-jazz-bass-flatwounds.605/review?review=898#review-898

 

[Deleted member 271037]

After reading threads like this one I always wonder whether people take the time (or have the necessary skills) to set up their basses properly. Sure, Roto 77s are slightly higher tension (and also slightly stiffer) than most other strings at similar gauges, but they're not really THAT extreme unless you specifically use the heavier gauge sets.

I normally prefer 45-105 with roundwounds and 40-100 with flats, but with Roto 77 flats I actually prefer 45-105. To my ears they have a better tone than the 40-100 set. The tension/stiffness is not a problem whatsoever, as long as the bass is set up properly. Of course the truss rod will most likely need to be tightened a bit. The stiffness also means the action can be set lower than with most other strings. When the bass is set up properly Roto 77s will play like a dream. If the bass is set up for other strings, Roto 77s will be VERY hard on your hands. It's all about the setup. Really!!!

I'm not saying Rotos are for everyone though. The stiffness means the dynamics/envelope will be very different than with more supple strings. Roto 77s do not have the wonderful articulation of (for example) TI Jazz Flats. Roto 77s flats are ROCK flats IMO. Basically the sound of British 70s rock/prog.

The one thing I personally don't like about Roto 77s is that they individual strings age differently. The D+G-strings mellow out quite fast, the E+A-strings stay bright for a very long time. In the context of a band/mix I've never experience this to be a problem but I hate practicing alone with Roto 77s, they can sound rather unbalanced when playing alone.

One thing to be aware of is that the wrapping is made from monel, which means Roto flats have VERY low output. This isn't really an issue in most situation but if you need to change FAST between two basses on stage, and one of them has Roto 77s, the difference in output volume will be VERY noticeable (and any comp/drive settings on pedals will be totally off, if they're set using a different bass). Even pure nickels strings have considerably higher output. The TONE of Roto 77s is absolutely superb though, the mids in particular are gorgeous!

 

[Pier_]

After reading threads like this one I always wonder whether people take the time (or have the necessary skills) to set up their basses properly.

I tell it every single time I've learned, in particular setting other musicians instruments, that few understand how a setup works.

guitarists putting .013 strings on their acoustics, complaining that the action raises, but not considering that you need to tighten the truss rod.
other that go to .009 and complain that the guitar buzzes.

I've seen lot of people trying heavier strings on bass, like the La Bella 52-110 flats, and they NEVER ever do setups.
strings like that, with that particular gauge, need a complete setup starting from the truss rod tightening, a lot of work on the saddles to lower the action and intonate every string (in fact, a lot of users don't intonate the saddles and complain that the strings are out of tune...), considering that the E string on that set usually goes almost full backward.
then there's the nut! coming from 45-105, and mounting a set with a 73 D string and a 95 A strings NEEDS to lower the nut slots, or the strings will sit too high (and tight, compromising the tuning stability), be impossible to play and feel stiffer.

once you do a proper setup, you can play everything.

I have a couple of basses with 55-105 Fender and GHS flats, some others with 43-110 Rotosound Sheehan, another couple with GHS 45-95 flats, and also 40-95 rounds, and guess what? I switch between basses without any problem
I did setups on every bass making it comfortable related to the strings, so I can play a super light slapping machine and switch to a heavy gauged thump Precision without any problem.

Basically the sound of British 70s rock/prog

don't forget the late 70's punk, post punk and new wave sound of the bass. the first time I tried this set on a Precision, I heard the "Play for Today" sound straight out of the pick.

 

[BrentSimons]

One of the few times I tried flatwounds I picked up a set of 77's in the 40-100 gauge. I really enjoyed them although twangy Rotosound Swing Bass are usually my favorite go to strings. My only other venture into flats were D'Addario Chromes. Those were nice too! But I need the gank and twang!

 

[Rob Rogers]

One of the few times I tried flatwounds I picked up a set of 77's in the 40-100 gauge. I really enjoyed them although twangy Rotosound Swing Bass are usually my favorite go to strings. My only other venture into flats were D'Addario Chromes. Those were nice too! But I need the gank and twang!

You use the Rotosound swing bass strings. I stopped using them on my bass due to the wear on the neck.
Have they changed the strings where you can them without neck damage?
I have been using GHS Bass boomers.
Let me know your thoughts.
thank you
Rob

 

[BrentSimons]

You use the Rotosound swing bass strings. I stopped using them on my bass due to the wear on the neck.
Have they changed the strings where you can them without neck damage?
I have been using GHS Bass boomers.
Let me know your thoughts.
thank you
Rob

Hi
I've never encountered any neck damage while using Rotosounds. Do you mean fret damage?

 

[Iristone]

I might have listened to far too much British music, but to me the Roto 77 is THE classic thumpy flatwound tone, with clarity. La Bella sounds like organ pedals in comparison. Seems that the high tension of the Roto actually makes the note bounce out and sound really tight.

 

[Zigmundfloyd]

I'm trying these for the first time on a US Fender P. Big fan of Roto 66 SS's.

So far it's a mixed bag. They have a nice feel. The A & D strings sound great. The E string is really quiet and the G seems dead right off the bat. Not sure if they even out over time.

They are a bit bright but not more so than most new flatwounds.

Quite high tension. I can get the relief almost flat and the action really low without any buzzing. But you can forget about slapping these.

I know Roger Waters and Steve Harris are famous for using Roto flats, but those guys look like cavemen with cavemen hands so the tension probably isn't an issue.

I'll see how they fare at band rehearsal before casting them off.

Conclusion?

 

[Swerve]

Conclusion?

Worst set of strings I've ever used!

 

[Pier_]

Worst set of strings I've ever used!

explain

 

[Kyle_S]

Tried these today for the first time. They're bright out of the package, but still have a nice, fat tone. I'm used to playing 105-45 rounds, but obviously the tension of 105-45 flats is much higher, and I certainly feel it. I tightened the truss rod so there's not a lot of bow in the neck, but my action's firmly in medium range. I could maybe make them a little easier to play if I lowered the saddles, but I like where I've got them right now and don't really want to mess around with them.

Will be interesting to see how the sound changes as they mellow out, or if my hands will even tolerate them long enough to break them in.

 

[Pier_]

or if my hands will even tolerate them long enough to break them in.

if you give strings the right time, hand will get used.

I've used for years the La Bella 52-110, went back to lighter gauges and now I'm playing with 55-105 flats... at first I found them impossible to play, but I liked the heavy G string too much.
now they are my reference strings, and the bass with the Rotosound 45-105 feels super light

 

[Novacore]

I just installed the LD version of these strings (.45-.105 I believe) and I really find them uncomfortable stiff to play even after redoing the whole setup.

I think I do kind of want flats on my P bass but I'm looking for something that feels a bit more like similar gauge rounds to the touch. Anyone have any recommendations? For context, I'm mainly playing Maiden stuff on my P bass so they can be bright for flats. But yeah, Steve Harris' preferred brand doesn't really suit me...

 

[4StringDave]

I just installed the LD version of these strings (.45-.105 I believe) and I really find them uncomfortable stiff to play even after redoing the whole setup.

I think I do kind of want flats on my P bass but I'm looking for something that feels a bit more like similar gauge rounds to the touch. Anyone have any recommendations? For context, I'm mainly playing Maiden stuff on my P bass so they can be bright for flats. But yeah, Steve Harris' preferred brand doesn't really suit me...

Fender 9050L

 

[Kyle_S]

if you give strings the right time, hand will get used.

I've used for years the La Bella 52-110, went back to lighter gauges and now I'm playing with 55-105 flats... at first I found them impossible to play, but I liked the heavy G string too much.
now they are my reference strings, and the bass with the Rotosound 45-105 feels super light

You were totally right, my hands did get used to them. Now I'm just waiting for the E and A strings to lose their brightness. The D and G mellowed quickly, so it kind of feels like I'm playing two different basses.

 

[bassist4dalord]

Just an update, I am absolutely loving these strings. The surface feels incredible under the fingers. The stiffness took some getting used to but now I love it, especially with my setup with low action. These are quickly becoming my favorite flatwounds.

Someday, when I’m willing again to spend $60 on a set of strings, I might like to buy a 5-string set and go BEAD on my Schecter.