Has anyone tried the Rotosound Ultra Mags? I use a set of the Rotosound Nexus strings on one of my G&L basses with one of their MFD pickups, and they sound fantastic. They're roundwound strings wound with Alloy 52, an iron/nickel alloy, and coated with a black polymer. The Ultra Mags are the uncoated version of them. My only complaint about the Nexus strings is that they have as much finger noise--maybe more--than a stainless steel roundwound set. If you've tried the Ultra Mags, do they seem to have a fingernoise problem? The 7 or 8 reviews of them on retail sites were 100% 5-star, and nobody mentioned fingernoise, but reviews can be deceiving.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Rotosound Ultra Mags
- Thread starter jglunt
- Start date
One of my basses has been wearing the Ultramags for the last four months. And these have turned out to be a pleasant surprise the way they sound and FEEL. Smoother in texture than the Rotosound Solo Bass 55 (stainless steel pressurewound) or even a few of the nickel rounds I've tried in the past, and finger noise is well-controlled.
If finger noise is a major concern for you, you can also try the GHS Pressurewounds, which are Alloy 52 "rollerwound" with even smoother in texture and less finger noise than the Ultramags.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/rotosound-ultramag.1448770/
Last edited:
Thank you @michael_t. That the Ultra Mags are smooth-feeling is a revelation. The Nexus strings I have on my G&L are amazing-sounding, and they're the coated version of the Ultra Mags. However, they're not available in a 5-string set, whereas the Ultra Mags are. And G&L's MFD pickup reacts with more sensitivity to strings than regular alnico or ceramic pickups. I'll have to try a set of Ultra Mags on a bass with alnicos. I only notice the finger noise when I'm practicing by myself. In a band mix, it gets covered up, and I use in-ear monitors where I would notice it in the mix if it was too prominent. I do have a set of Pressurewounds on a G&L SB-2 that I have. I've had them on there about six months and still can't decide if I like their sound or not. Thank you again, and thanks for the link.
