Rotosounds change over the years?

[J Wilson]

As a kid from the 70's, I used Rotosounds off and on for many years. In the 90's, Sam Ash had them for REEL cheep, and I started using them quite a bit, but . . . . they just varied. I'm not one of these super fussy guys about strings, but it was really noticeable after a while.

Then it dawned on me . . . . they all took a sea cruise (obviously in a container) in all that salt air. Or maybe it was elves from the Black Country in England. Who knows, but I smartened up and went back to GHS and never looked back.

And yes, they did seem different than back in the day. But this is all so very subjective, though that's how it seemed to me.

 

[TheArchitect]

I ordered a set of rb50 just to try. Probably won't make any difference but I gotta fins out

 

[GTHintz]

I have a feeling that after or during the time when Rotosound was getting complaints and replacing strings they probably changed something in their materials or found a new wire company. Even the venerable Billy Sheehan dropped rotos as his strings of choice for a bit. After he went back they gave him a signature set and ran his image out there but he even said that something changed and that's why he gave them another shot. At least that's what I heard in one of his interviews years ago. From my experience they got shinier and more refined later on. I remember my first couple sets I used had silk on both ends and were gray. The last roto set I've played was the Billy Sheehan set and they were brighter material and less grabby than the old rotos I had before. They also only had silk on the tuner end which I found odd but that's how others are doing it now if they even still do it. I've gone eyeballs deep into string testing and haven't gone back since but even the newest pack wasn't bad by any means. I'd still recommend them for anyone who can't do nickel or wants to try stainless. If you like rotos you'll like stainless and I still think they are the benchmark stainless strings.

 

[b525]

I still rely on the Swing Bass 66s for my main Sterling bass. Size 35 or 40 usually, never found a similar feel/tone from other brands. They're still as rough, grippy and ruthless as the first set I've tried like 10 or so years ago. Can't testify for the OG 1970s version since I'm not that old lol

 

[byacey]

Yeah, I remember that (I never throw old strings out, so I still have some sets of those around).

There was one thing that Rotosound did change, and that was back in the 90's the strings used to come in envelopes, in a cardboard box.

Apparently there were quite a few complaints of dead sounding strings coming fresh out of the packet (only happened to me once, with a dull / dead A string, which was replaced free of charge).

The dull grey appearance may well have been oxidization, which is why Rotosound switched to packaging their strings in hermetically sealed foil pouches.





Yeah, the last few times I've put new one on, I've thought they sounded less zingy than I remember - then had to remind myself that my reference recording was done when I used to play with a hard delrin pick, right up by the bridge - and that my ears hadn't been subjected to 30 years of gigging.

Perhaps they used to be wound with Monel metal.

 

[johnnynitro]

Rotosound Steels are pretty much the ONLY strings I have used since the 80s. They seem to last longer these days. Maybe smoother.?? (Not something I would notice). I love them when they get old. The older the better.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

My first encounter with Rotosound Swing Bass steels was in the early 90s, probably around 92/93. The last set I installed was purchased around 1-2 years ago. The new ones aren't quite as grey out of the box as I remember them but I suspect this has to do with the packaging. The new packaging offers far better protection against oxidation than the old cardboard boxes. They're still noticably greyer/duller looking than any nickel plated strings though. As for the tone and "feel" they seem to be more or less exactly the same as I remember them 30 years ago. I've always felt that the whole thing about "Rotosound eats your hands/frets" was highly exaggerated.

Of course, if any of the changes you are discussing happened before the early 90s I can't comment.

Keep in mind that your hearing will change over the years. If any of you are well into middle age or beyond (which you must be if you played Rotos back in the day) the perceived loss of treble bite could simply be your hearing. This would affect ALL types of strings of course but perhaps more noticable with the bright Roto steels as the higher frequencies are the first to go. It happens to everyone sooner of later. Probably sooner with musicians...

The Rotobass strings are very different of course. They sound/feel/look more like you average nickel plated strings, which is exactly what they are.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I ordered a set of rb50 just to try. Probably won't make any difference but I gotta fins out

I'm using RB50 on my SB-1. I recently tried a pack of the 50-70-85-110 Swing Bass, to compare.

I found I got a harder, more stony tone, at the cost of warmth and charm. It was a great noise, but not right for what I want from that bass.

When I went back to the RB50 I noticed that I most missed the Swing Bass's intensity and immediacy on the G string.

Otoh, I found that comparing the E strings the Swing Bass didn't quite have the RB50's clarity (which was not at all what I was expecting)

 

[skygzr]

There was that time they started using corn syrup instead of sugar. Nobody liked it and they had to change back.

 

[Gizmot]

I used Rotosounds for several years starting back in the late 70s (on my Ric bass). I loved the way they sounded for a couple of weeks, then they lost their punch and zing. The feel of those strings, which were somewhat rougher than anything else I was familiar with, was responsible for their sound in my opinion. My main gripe with Rotos is they simply don’t last long enough

 

[TheArchitect]

I found a couple of Youtube shootouts with the Rotobass vs the Swing bass (Steel vs Nickel) I found I preferred the nickel.

What does confuse me though is Rotosounds has the Rotobass (Nickel) but also offer a Nickel in the Swingbass line. Whats the difference?

 

[TheArchitect]

The dull grey appearance may well have been oxidization, which is why Rotosound switched to packaging their strings in hermetically sealed foil pouches.

I cannot rule that out but oxidation tends to be random, these were very consistent across all 4 strings. I guess they could have been very old NOS. 30 years on there is no way to know

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

I've experienced a broken kernel on 2 of 4 strings from my Swingbass set. I have to say that I've install these string 8 years after I've got the pack. Don't know if this matter or not.

 

[TheArchitect]

I still rely on the Swing Bass 66s for my main Sterling bass. Size 35 or 40 usually, never found a similar feel/tone from other brands. They're still as rough, grippy and ruthless as the first set I've tried like 10 or so years ago. Can't testify for the OG 1970s version since I'm not that old lol

Don't need to go to the 70's. 90's will do... If you think modern Roto's are rough, they are nothing compared to the past versions

 

[chadds]

In a short period of time original Rotos made grooves in frets. Basses: actual ‘57 P and next a ‘70 Telebass single coil.

My “best” memory is that the brilliant open “hifi Fender” tone lasted about an hour.

 

[lermgalieu]

I've been using Roto's on and off since the mid 80's and don't remember them ever being coarse or abrasive on my hands. The rounds that really tore my fingers up were the Fenders that came on my Ultra Jazz (2021).

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Here’s a picture of the packaging that I remember from the late 70’s:

View attachment 4901775

I remember most brands being packaged that way, well into the 90's. Paper envelopes in a vinyl pouch.

 

[MrLenny1]

I use to use them on a Rick 4003. They were rough on the fingers
and sounded like a chain saw with a pick. lol

 

[BOOG]

I personally feel their surface texture has definitely gotten smoother, compared to the Rotosound Swing Bass 66’s that I used in the late 70’s. Also, the outer surface of those late 70’s SB66’s were a dull gray. The outer surface on today’s SB66’s is shiny.

Exactly! I had a set of Roto's in the 90's that were dull grey. They were hard on the hand but they sounded killer and were different than what I get today. That must have been the end of that because I have never seen another set like that again

Your descriptions made think of the DR Fatbeams I tried a few years ago. I don’t have any experience with early years of Rotosounds but what you’re describing sounds like what I found with the DRFB. Not something I was liking and couldn’t get them off fast enough but, I can see why some people would like them.

 

[TheArchitect]

Your descriptions made think of the DR Fatbeams I tried a few years ago. I don’t have any experience with early years of Rotosounds but what you’re describing sounds like what I found with the DRFB. Not something I was liking and couldn’t get them off fast enough but, I can see why some people would like them.

The 90's are not exactly the early years for them. They have been around since the 60's