Short scale Rotosound RS77S vs Chromes?

[project_c]

I put some Rotosound flats on a P bass and I'm enjoying playing them, they're perhaps a little stiff but they're surprisingly articulate, notes are jumping out in a really satisfying way, and that's after about a couple of weeks so the initial brightness is gone, but the punch is all still there. So now I'm wondering how the RS77S are on a short scale - especially when compared to Chromes. Has anyone tried the short scale set, and if so, how do they compare to Chromes in terms of tone and tension?

 

[Pier_]

Roto Jazz in short scale al another kind of strings; that's strange, but they have a smoother surface, sound mellower and made only in the lighter gauge.

I never made to like them, and I love the Jazz77.

 

[project_c]

Roto Jazz in short scale al another kind of strings; that's strange, but they have a smoother surface, sound mellower and made only in the lighter gauge.

I never made to like them, and I love the Jazz77.

So they feel completely different to the regular scale Roto flats?

 

[Pier_]

exactly, they are smooth and soft the opposite!

 

[project_c]

exactly, they are smooth and soft the opposite!

Interesting, thanks! I might have to try them anyway, just out of curiosity. The Chromes on my short scale are very dead, I want to try something different on that bass. Maybe I’ll run straight back to the Chromes, who knows..

 

[HaphAsSard]

Interesting, thanks! I might have to try them anyway, just out of curiosity. The Chromes on my short scale are very dead, I want to try something different on that bass. Maybe I’ll run straight back to the Chromes, who knows..

I've written extensively about the IMO subpar 090 low E of the RS77S set:

https://www.talkbass.com/search/3863352/?q=rs77s+090&t=post&c[child_nodes]=1&c[nodes][0]=246&c[users]=HaphAsSard&o=date

If you want a comparably bright alternative to Chromes, try short-scale Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds (aka 'cobalt flats'; sets 2817 and 2818).

 

[Pier_]

Maybe I’ll run straight back to the Chromes, who knows..

try the Fender 9050L, they are brighter on the mids compared to the Chromes, anche keep the sound "clearer" longer.

 

[GIBrat51]

I had long scale RS77LD's on my Fender p-Bass for years. Had them on an'18 Gibson Thunderbird for a couple of years, too; they were on it when I sold it. The long scale Roto 77's are very high tension flats - and yes, they're "bridge cable" stiff. I'm used to stiff flats, though - so, no biggy... The only bass I own now that wears Roto 77's, is my Guild Starfire 1. It wears the medium scale RS77M LDs. I don't think they're particularly stiff; about... average, IMO. They aren't the smoothest flats I use - Galli Jazz Flats wear that crown - but they aren't the roughest ones, either. On that bass? I'm very happy with them... I do have a short scale set in my "Big Box 'O Strings", but... no short scale bass that needs new strings at the moment. When all but a couple of your basses wear flats, that isn't something that happens very often...
As for D'Addario Chromes? I put an old, salvaged long scale set on a G&L ASAT Bass a few years ago - more out of curiosity than anything else. I avoid D'Addario strings, as a rule; why isn't important here. I'll admit to being favorably impressed with them - on that bass. But, when they finally, actually did die? I replaced them with my general purpose, go-to flats; Fender 9050Ls. Chromes have too much high end - and not enough low end - for me. The ASAT's "sort of" active tone controls could "fix" that, but... IMO, the Fender's just sound better. Speaking of which... sadly, AFAIK Fender does not offer short scale flats. I really wish they did...

 

[Mosthigh]

I have RS77S Jazz flats on my SG, and find them a bit floppy, actually, and not the easiest to get in tune. I find the E string has more bottom than Pyramids. They do sound good and play well enough, though. Decent Entwistle-ish tone for maybe a half a day when they're new.

 

[project_c]

try the Fender 9050L, they are brighter on the mids compared to the Chromes, anche keep the sound "clearer" longer.

As far as I know they don’t make them in short scale unfortunately..

 

[project_c]

I had long scale RS77LD's on my Fender p-Bass for years. Had them on an'18 Gibson Thunderbird for a couple of years, too; they were on it when I sold it. The long scale Roto 77's are very high tension flats - and yes, they're "bridge cable" stiff. I'm used to stiff flats, though - so, no biggy... The only bass I own now that wears Roto 77's, is my Guild Starfire 1. It wears the medium scale RS77M LDs. I don't think they're particularly stiff; about... average, IMO. They aren't the smoothest flats I use - Galli Jazz Flats wear that crown - but they aren't the roughest ones, either. On that bass? I'm very happy with them... I do have a short scale set in my "Big Box 'O Strings", but... no short scale bass that needs new strings at the moment. When all but a couple of your basses wear flats, that isn't something that happens very often...
As for D'Addario Chromes? I put an old, salvaged long scale set on a G&L ASAT Bass a few years ago - more out of curiosity than anything else. I avoid D'Addario strings, as a rule; why isn't important here. I'll admit to being favorably impressed with them - on that bass. But, when they finally, actually did die? I replaced them with my general purpose, go-to flats; Fender 9050Ls. Chromes have too much high end - and not enough low end - for me. The ASAT's "sort of" active tone controls could "fix" that, but... IMO, the Fender's just sound better. Speaking of which... sadly, AFAIK Fender does not offer short scale flats. I really wish they did...

For some reason I don’t find the tension of Roto flats on my P that noticeable or difficult to deal with, they just feel like solid flats with perhaps a little more tension than I’m used to, but the articulation and note definition is really impressive, things that normally sound ‘blurry’ with other strings (fast phrases etc) just pop out with these strings, I find them really satisfying to play.

The Chromes on my short scale have been great but they’ve become super smooth over time, and I’m missing a little resistance, sometimes it feels like they’re almost too slippery. There is also a tonal quality to Chromes which lots of people mention, a metallic thing in the high mids which hasn’t gone away despite the huge number of gigs and daily playing I’ve put these strings through. On one hand it keeps the strings sounding bright, but on the other sometimes that frequency can be annoying and needs to be dialled out with the tone control, which then means that you end up with a very dark and muffled tone. It’s possible that I might just need to put rounds on that bass for a while.

 

[project_c]

I've written extensively about the IMO subpar 090 low E of the RS77S set:

https://www.talkbass.com/search/3863352/?q=rs77s+090&t=post&c[child_nodes]=1&c[nodes][0]=246&c[users]=HaphAsSard&o=date

If you want a comparably bright alternative to Chromes, try short-scale Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwounds (aka 'cobalt flats'; sets 2817 and 2818).

Thanks for this, yeah the tension of that E string does seem strange, perhaps it’s to compensate for the stiffness but I can see how it would cause intonation problems. I’ll look into cobalts, the brightness has put me off but maybe they’re worth a look.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Thanks for this, yeah the tension of that E string does seem strange, perhaps it’s to compensate for the stiffness but I can see how it would cause intonation problems. I’ll look into cobalts, the brightness has put me off but maybe they’re worth a look.

If brightness is not the ultimate goal and you're after an articulate but smoother tone, you might be better served by Dunlop flats (sets DBFS40100S and DBFS45105S), Gibson flats (SBG-FWSSL or SBG-FWSSM), Galli flats (JF45105S) or Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwounds ("Group flats"; sets 2800 and 2801).

 

[Pier_]

For some reason I don’t find the tension of Roto flats on my P that noticeable or difficult to deal with

IMHO they are a thing on their own. the tension is actually higher than most flats, they almost double (also consider that the gauges advertised are not real. a 45-105 set is actually a 50-70-85-105 set), but they can be lowered in action and being so "solid" they respond wery well to the touch, and never feel rubbery.

I use them on a Vintera II 60 Precision, to achieve that british rock/post-punk sound, and they are unmatchable.

 

[project_c]

If brightness is not the ultimate goal and you're after an articulate but smoother tone, you might be better served by Dunlop flats (sets DBFS40100S and DBFS45105S), Gibson flats (SBG-FWSSL or SBG-FWSSM), Galli flats (JF45105S) or Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwounds ("Group flats"; sets 2800 and 2801).

Thanks for the suggestions, the only set I’ve used from that list are the Dunlops and they feel pretty much perfect, but they are also the deadest sounding strings I’ve ever used. I’ve had them on a bass for around 4 years, and I’m keeping them on there because they feel so good to play but the tone is beyond dead - great for walking lines, and really great with pedals, but less great for soloing.. Curious about the others sets, will check them out.

 

[markjazzbassist]

rotosound is unique in that their long scale strings and short scale strings are completely different. they don't simply size them down for short scale, they make a completely different set with different gauges that are A LOT smaller that long scale. i blame the English....

 

[TomB]

Thanks for the suggestions, the only set I’ve used from that list are the Dunlops and they feel pretty much perfect, but they are also the deadest sounding strings I’ve ever used. I’ve had them on a bass for around 4 years, and I’m keeping them on there because they feel so good to play but the tone is beyond dead - great for walking lines, and really great with pedals, but less great for soloing.. Curious about the others sets, will check them out.

I love Dunlop flats as well, my current #1 short scale, but after 100 gigs or so I felt I needed to refresh them. As I recall, Labella DTF’s (long scale) lasted longer.

 

[project_c]

I love Dunlop flats as well, my current #1 short scale, but after 100 gigs or so I felt I needed to refresh them. As I recall, Labella DTF’s (long scale) lasted longer.

How was the tension compared to the Dunlops? Did you have to do much tweaking?

 

[TomB]

How was the tension compared to the Dunlops? Did you have to do much tweaking?

I’m not sure this answers your question. The comparable DTF’s to Dunlop short-scale flats are FS only. They are for sure stiffer and higher tension than the Dunlop ss flats. I can’t say if that’s true for long scale, having never tried Dunlop long scale. My guess is that Dunlop flat long scale is on a par tension-wise with Labella FL’s, but that’s just a guess. Dunlops might be closer to Labella LTF’s. I’d expect some tweaking needed going between them.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

I love Roto flats on long scale basses but the short scale sets are horrible IMO. They are far too light gauge/floppy IMO. In fact, I could say the same about all Rotosound short scale sets. The Roto 66 roundwound sets are actually even worse. Possibly the worst set of strings I've ever played.

With D'Addario Chromes it's the other way around. I find the long scale sets too stiff and inarticulate, but that stiffness can be an advantage with the lower tension on short scale basses. I actually like the short scale set, even though D'A Chromes are a bit clanky/harsh sounding in the upper mids for my taste.