Strange String ID?

[ric4682]

I just picked up a new (to me) Serek Metropolis and it has some unique strings that I’ve never encountered before. I’ve played a decent amount of different string brands and types and these are totally unique to anything else I’ve played.

Red silk at the headstock, black silk at the bridge. They’re flats, but they’re definitely more textured than the glassy smooth LaBella or new Pino flats I’ve tried. They also feel more textured than TI’s or Chromes. They almost feel like maybe a roller wound string? They don’t have the grabby feeling half wounds or ground wounds have. They feel fairly stiff as well.
Tonally, they’re pretty fat and thumpy.
I’ll be able to upload some pics in an hour or so.

What do I have here?

 

[michael_t]

Red silk at the headstock, black silk at the bridge. They’re flats, but they’re definitely more textured than the glassy smooth LaBella or new Pino flats I’ve tried. They also feel more textured than TI’s or Chromes. They almost feel like maybe a roller wound string? They don’t have the grabby feeling half wounds or ground wounds have. They feel fairly stiff as well.

Based on the description, I would say they're an older version of the Rotosound Jazz 77 Flats.

 

[ric4682]

Based on the description, I would say they're an older version of the Rotosound Jazz 77 Flats.

I didn’t even think to look at the ball ends and when I got home and checked, sure enough. Red white and blue ball ends. Sounds like Rotosounds for sure.

 

[iiipopes]

Be careful. Roto 77 monel flats, given the same or similar gauges as other mainstream brands of flats, have more tension and could stress your truss rod. But with the 32-inch scale instead of the 34-inch scale, that is about 12% less tension for the set than if these strings were strung on a regular 34-inch scale bass, so you may be alright.