Rotosound Solo Bass 55

[Leverus]

In my hunt for new strings I stumbled upon Roto 55's. The few reviews I could find seemed promising: a sound similar to a set of Roto 66 while feeling much smoother due to being pressure wound. What's there not to like?

I just strung them up, and wow are these nice. They lack a little of the high end that a set of 66's have (A good thing IMO), but the mids have just as much if not more punch and snarl to them. The lows are thick and rich with a nice growl. The sound is very well balanced between strings. I can get most of the sound I like from a flat EQ on my amp instead of boosting the mids way up. All around awesome sounding strings.

As for the feel, they'd still be disappointing if you can't stand the grabbiness that Rotos seem to be famous for. They aren't as rough feeling as 66's, but they feel rather sticky, especially the D string. I'm starting to like how that feels for my fretting hand, but it feels weird playing fingerstyle. Finger noise is still abundant, though it's been too longs since I've used Rotos to tell if it's as bad or better than 66's. If you can get over those qualities, these are some very good strings.

The green silk wrap isn't too shabby looking either. Great strings, possibly my new favorite.

 

[skychief]

Thanks for posting this review..

..Ive always been a fan of the 66's, but they were a little brite-sounding for my tastes. Looking forward to a set of the 55's! (next string change interval). Hope they make 'em in short scale for my EB-2

 

[Drewski9]

It doesn't remove the roughness of the 66's but it takes the "edge" off plus it adds about 30% to their life if used daily.

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[Leverus]

I don't think these come in short scale. All I see on Rotosound's webpage are long scale sets.

 

[skychief]

I don't think these come in short scale. All I see on Rotosound's webpage are long scale sets.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Pressure wound strings are very cool. I have been playing them for years and I don't understand why they do not get as much love...

Rotosound does only make them in 3 variety...

Hybrid: .040 .060 .080 .100
Standard: .045 .065 .085 .105
5 String: .045 .065 .085 .105 .130

They are Stainless Steel pressure wounds.

 

[markanini]

Ah, my favorite strings as of late. I use my own mix of gauges 45-60-80-105 which makes for a fairly even tension. I can really get any sound imaginable just by tweaking my technique and tone controls. Check out the clips in my sig both recorded on the same bass, same RS 55's.

 

[Leverus]

I'm using the 40-100 set and they feel great tension wise. I'm loving how with just a minor EQ change on my bass I can get these from being very thumpy and warm on the neck pup to bright and cutting at the bridge and everywhere between. I've tried 3 prior sets of strings since I bought that active Yamaha and these are the first that sound and feel right on it.

Now I'm wondering how a set would do n my P bass

 

[pietrocefa]

Pressure wound strings are very cool. I have been playing them for years and I don't understand why they do not get as much love...

Rotosound does only make them in 3 variety...

Hybrid: .040 .060 .080 .100
Standard: .045 .065 .085 .105
5 String: .045 .065 .085 .105 .130

They are Stainless Steel pressure wounds.

Also high C, 030, and sounds great...

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Where are you finding a .030 solo bass 55. Rotosound confirms none.

 

[pietrocefa]

Where are you finding a .030 solo bass 55. Rotosound confirms none.

http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/

Few days ago, Stainless. Not so expensive, maybe.

 

[mmbongo]

Are 'pressure wound' and 'compression wound' basically the same thing?

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Yes they are the same. Rotosound are stainless. Other brands are a nickel alloy of some kind.

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Strings Direct - Online Guitar Strings and Accessories

Few days ago, Stainless. Not so expensive, maybe.

Unfortunately this is a product to be found in the UK only at this time.

It is not a product that Rotosound's US distribution has been importing since there has not been demand for it...

Hopefully this may change in the future...

 

[winterburn69]

Sounds cool. Do they have the red silky end like other Rotos or is it a different colour?

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

GREEN!

Rotosound stock photo: Its a little more vibrant IRL...

 

[winterburn69]

Green? That is sooooo cool! I gotta try a set of these solely for the green silk!

 

[Leverus]

I'll admit that the green silk was half the reason I tried these.

 

[OOD]

Pressure wound strings are very cool. I have been playing them for years and I don't understand why they do not get as much love...

Rotosound does only make them in 3 variety...

Hybrid: .040 .060 .080 .100
Standard: .045 .065 .085 .105
5 String: .045 .065 .085 .105 .130

They are Stainless Steel pressure wounds.

Does anyone know if the tension is even on the hybrid set? I have the standard set and the tension is slightly high for my liking.

Are there anymore SS Pressure wound options? It took a very long time for the roto 55's to die down enough for me, but when they did I feel in love.

 

[Gorn]

Does anyone know if the tension is even on the hybrid set? I have the standard set and the tension is slightly high for my liking.

Are there anymore SS Pressure wound options? It took a very long time for the roto 55's to die down enough for me, but when they did I feel in love.

I've never tried them, though I've always wanted to, but I'm pretty sure these are the only steel pressurewounds.