Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
What's your favorite Roundwound?
- Thread starter Bassworship1
- Start date
I just bought my first pair of rounds in two years, rotosound 66 swing bass. I'm throwing them on my rick copy when it comes in.
Last edited:
I'm an all-round DR fan, but if I were to make do with just one set, I'd probably pick the nickel Coccos.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
When I was about 23 and all into DR SS highbeams back in the late 90s at $40 a pop, I asked my "concert sound engineering" teacher, what kind of bass strings he liked, and his answer was classic. "New ones"
The last set of DRs I purchased was around 2008 and it was to try the black beauties. I went throgh phases of using elixir and cleartone because coated strings do last longer. But I have been known to take advantage of promos and clearance strings, so I have tried many different kinds of nickels although I prefer stainless.
Denatured alcohol and a Tupperware container, or a PVC pipe cleaning tube are your friends. I have rediscovered many old strings (I kept most of them over the years, I figured dead strings are better than no strings). Soaking them in the DNA brings them back to life, especially nickels which my PH kills rather quickly.
Some of my favorites other than DR/elixir/cleartone, are american flyers (markley side brand, long defunct), blue steels, Ernie ball slinkys, XLs, older fender mim 7250 and 8250, Warwick black label, dean markley nickel steel, ghs heavy boomers, dean markley NPS round core Rocco prestia, RS66, labella RX ss, current fender (very similar to XL).
Next on my list to try are Ernie ball stainless Slinky's in .115 .090 .070 .050 and the SIT power steel in the same gauge. As well as some .105 Warwick reds. I will have to make my first order with Jason at BSO to get those guages because nobody makes a set like that, the closest is ghs heavy boomers with a .095 instead of a .090. Hello string companies, it is the ideal drop C set!
The last set of DRs I purchased was around 2008 and it was to try the black beauties. I went throgh phases of using elixir and cleartone because coated strings do last longer. But I have been known to take advantage of promos and clearance strings, so I have tried many different kinds of nickels although I prefer stainless.
Denatured alcohol and a Tupperware container, or a PVC pipe cleaning tube are your friends. I have rediscovered many old strings (I kept most of them over the years, I figured dead strings are better than no strings). Soaking them in the DNA brings them back to life, especially nickels which my PH kills rather quickly.
Some of my favorites other than DR/elixir/cleartone, are american flyers (markley side brand, long defunct), blue steels, Ernie ball slinkys, XLs, older fender mim 7250 and 8250, Warwick black label, dean markley nickel steel, ghs heavy boomers, dean markley NPS round core Rocco prestia, RS66, labella RX ss, current fender (very similar to XL).
Next on my list to try are Ernie ball stainless Slinky's in .115 .090 .070 .050 and the SIT power steel in the same gauge. As well as some .105 Warwick reds. I will have to make my first order with Jason at BSO to get those guages because nobody makes a set like that, the closest is ghs heavy boomers with a .095 instead of a .090. Hello string companies, it is the ideal drop C set!
Roto 66. I don't remember there being many other options here in Scotland when I started playing and
they've always worked for me. Never noticed them being rough on the hands or frets but a lifetime of
construction will do that
they've always worked for me. Never noticed them being rough on the hands or frets but a lifetime of
construction will do that
Don't throw them away. Soak them for 24-72 hours in denatured alcohol and they come right back to life. Works until the metal fatigues, hence coated strings last so long. You can soak them over and over again without damaging the strings.
