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Thunderbird Club
- Thread starter TBird1958
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Ha!! Live on stage!! "hmmmm, i think them there tubes could be running a little hotter..."
Yeah just crank them a little hotter during the guitar solo!
I have noticed that the bulk of Rotosound strings are not available at BassStringsOnline.com Now on sale at L&M. I wonder if Rotosound is rationalizing its offerings.
All this talk of Roto Swings 66 on birds got me thinking i'll do the same on my Epi Goth when it's all done. Had D'addario 55-110, but man it's heavy, my tigerbird has stainless 50-110 & it works perfectly.
Hey, don't get me wrong. I got D'Addario XLs (45 - 105) on one of the Birds and it's working well for now. Good sustain and tone. They just don't have enough "in your face" cut/twang for me..
Just picked up the Rotosound 66s and the salesman pointed out they are 45.65.80.105
I always thought the A was an 85...
Anyone know why they are called “swing” bass?
I always thought the A was an 85...
Anyone know why they are called “swing” bass?
"See-saw" bass was taken?
It dates back to the original release as they were brighter than anything else around at the time I believe
Gaolee
Official leathers tester and crash dummy
ehemI'm always partial to a firmware upgrade, especially on a tube
Swing makes me think of big band jazz. Is there a different use of the word in the UK?
Righto! That's what I mean, if you think "swing" one thinks uprights with flats..
Only in the same context as I imagine the big band sound was often called swing, it was livelier, more dancey than other contemporary sounds which in the case of strings I think they were predominantly flats in the 60s. The 66s just had more of a swing to them
I guess big band swing had bright brass horn shots.
Even though I used these strings way before Austin Powers, I now look at the package and think “swingin baby yeah”
Even though I used these strings way before Austin Powers, I now look at the package and think “swingin baby yeah”
Just out of interest
From November 1975, Guitar Player interview
What type of strings do you use?
Rotosound. I have to use them — I designed the flaming things! Poor Greg Lake, Chris Squire [laughs]. I was looking for bass strings which vibrated properly, and I couldn’t find a good E and A string on any set at all, except maybe for LaBella — they weren’t too bad. But I wanted a round-wound string. I was approached by Rotosound, and they said they’d make some strings for me, exactly what I wanted. So I went to the factory, and they brought out a set of their round-wound and asked what I thought of them. The E and the A didn’t vibrate properly, and the D and the G weren’t heavy enough. So I sat there all afternoon while they made me strings with different cores, and different gauges, and different types of wire, and finally got through the E, A, D, G, and got a balanced set. And I said, “they’re fine, make me as many sets as you can.” They started making them and said, “look, we’ll put your picture in the string sets, and we’ll put these strings on the market.” So they issued them as “Swing Bass,” and they’ve been out ever since. A lot of people use them and get the same sound as me. I wanted to get a sound like a piano, which is why I wanted round-wound strings; I found that I could play chords and get a lot more sustain out of wire wound, so that’s really why I set out to get the strings done.
From November 1975, Guitar Player interview
What type of strings do you use?
Rotosound. I have to use them — I designed the flaming things! Poor Greg Lake, Chris Squire [laughs]. I was looking for bass strings which vibrated properly, and I couldn’t find a good E and A string on any set at all, except maybe for LaBella — they weren’t too bad. But I wanted a round-wound string. I was approached by Rotosound, and they said they’d make some strings for me, exactly what I wanted. So I went to the factory, and they brought out a set of their round-wound and asked what I thought of them. The E and the A didn’t vibrate properly, and the D and the G weren’t heavy enough. So I sat there all afternoon while they made me strings with different cores, and different gauges, and different types of wire, and finally got through the E, A, D, G, and got a balanced set. And I said, “they’re fine, make me as many sets as you can.” They started making them and said, “look, we’ll put your picture in the string sets, and we’ll put these strings on the market.” So they issued them as “Swing Bass,” and they’ve been out ever since. A lot of people use them and get the same sound as me. I wanted to get a sound like a piano, which is why I wanted round-wound strings; I found that I could play chords and get a lot more sustain out of wire wound, so that’s really why I set out to get the strings done.
All my basses have d'addario 50-105, my guitars sport d'addario strings. My Tigerbird has 'hartke' strings stainless 50-110, & on a bird that gauge works great. & i've actually never played Roto's due to many people, including my father, saying it ate away at frets over time. Which left me kinda skeptical about using them predominantly. I wish i could try GHS boomers again, those were great strings.
HOW.
DOES.
THE.
NECK.
STAY.
UP?
MAGIC?
That man can do anything.
Really though, it's quite simple.
With whom was this interview?
