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Something quirky (new rotosound 66's)

GTHintz

GTHintz

Jan 9, 2018
3,379
3,996
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Parts Unknown, California
#1
Just thought I'd see if this is a 1 off or if Im half nuts or crazy like a fox here. So Im picking up my bass. ( Passive Warwick Streamer standard) and Im still feeling out what i think about the bass strung with rotos. I know from experience that rotos are interesting in how you can never go by the tone you get from the time you first string it up. They do a lot of strange things as they settle. I think that's why most people think they got a twisted string or a defect. So anyway first session with it im not impressed. Second time it sounded like the a string was having a wierd issue and not sounding like the other strings. Ok on to today. I litterally move the pickup height down a millimeter on both pickups and play around and between that and having some time on the strings they have all suddenly settled evenly and im really happy with what im hearing. Punch bite, growl, the typical Warwick tone coming through nicely. I was so close to taking these off but im glad i stuck with it a little longer. So just wanted to see if this is a common thing for you guys that play rotos all the time. I'm playing roto for the first time in so long that i forget how quirky they are when they first go on the bass. Pic is so I can prove it did happen. Hahaha.
0520231013.jpg
 
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#2
Out of the gate it may be your tuners but Roto 66s are known for a wide change in sound in a short span. That’s why players like Chris Squire were known for changing to a fresh set every single day for their snappy sound. Other players like Ron Wood and John Entwistle used worn in ones for a fatter yet still growly tone.
 
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#3
marchone said:
Out of the gate it may be your tuners but Roto 66s are known for a wide change in sound in a short span. That’s why players like Chris Squire were known for changing to a fresh set every single day for that snappy sound. Other players like Ron Wood and John Entwistle used worn in ones for a fatter tone.
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I must have forgot how wide. I definitely like them after the tone fattens up a bit. The pickups are very bright as is so the fatness seens to round out everything else. I got too used to other strings that dont have such a big break in curve.
 
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#7
marchone said:
Out of the gate it may be your tuners but Roto 66s are known for a wide change in sound in a short span. That’s why players like Chris Squire were known for changing to a fresh set every single day for their snappy sound. Other players like Ron Wood and John Entwistle used worn in ones for a fatter yet still growly tone.
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Add Steve Harris to that list of daily Roto-swappers.
 
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#8
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#9
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#11
GTHintz said:
Its amazing how far things have gone especially in amps and eq flexibility. Back then id have probably changed strings every time like them and boiled them if i needed like Geddy used to. Now i can still have enough brightness months later. As long as theres enough definition going on in the mids I'm happy.
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I'd boil strings because I lacked the funds to buy strings. Somewhere around 1992 I remember my ex asking me "what do you want for Christmas?". All I wanted was a set of Rotosound Jazz flats for my Ric fretless. It was a financial stretch...
 
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#13
GTHintz said:
Just thought I'd see if this is a 1 off or if Im half nuts or crazy like a fox here. So Im picking up my bass. ( Passive Warwick Streamer standard) and Im still feeling out what i think about the bass strung with rotos. I know from experience that rotos are interesting in how you can never go by the tone you get from the time you first string it up. They do a lot of strange things as they settle. I think that's why most people think they got a twisted string or a defect. So anyway first session with it im not impressed. Second time it sounded like the a string was having a wierd issue and not sounding like the other strings. Ok on to today. I litterally move the pickup height down a millimeter on both pickups and play around and between that and having some time on the strings they have all suddenly settled evenly and im really happy with what im hearing. Punch bite, growl, the typical Warwick tone coming through nicely. I was so close to taking these off but im glad i stuck with it a little longer. So just wanted to see if this is a common thing for you guys that play rotos all the time. I'm playing roto for the first time in so long that i forget how quirky they are when they first go on the bass. Pic is so I can prove it did happen. Hahaha.
View attachment 5071070
Click to expand...

I think just about any strings can have a few quirks. When ever I change a type of brand of string, I do so with the foreknowledge I may have to adjust something, not just on my bass, but with the amp settings as well.
 
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#19
I used roto 66 for a long time. I always hated them for the first few days. Definitely weird stuff. I wouldn’t record with them until they settled. Then I’d get about 6 weeks before they got dull and stiff. Next set!

went to d’addario nickels after that, less exciting but more consistent and longer lasting
 
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