Pow_22

Thought id update with an excellent (and very informative) response from Rotosound on this issue:- Unfortunately, whilst many Chinese made basses and guitars are of a good standard these days, many of the factories out there have waivered from the western standards and the Fender Squire is one. The item you refer to as the `bullet` is the `ball` which is located at the ballend of the string. Up until two years ago we used the standard ¼” bass ball which had been the standard in the industry since way back in the 50`s. In fact it is known as the Ernie Ball spec. As with Ernie Ball, we have all our brass balls made in Switzerland as most of the USA producers do. They are the best around. Now, everything went well for many decades until the Chinese started making musical instruments and selling them to the likes of us in the West. For some reason they went metric so the ferrules adopted for string through bodies would only suit a metric ball of 0.237” and not the original larger 0.250” ¼” version. The ferrules were just a tad too small. Being aware of this problem becoming more common some two years ago I changed all our ball sizes to the smaller metric as they would still work with the standard US and western built guitars/basses but more importantly suit all the millions of Chinese made instruments now flooding our markets whose players wanted Rotosound strings on them and nothing less! Like all things in manufacturing, obsolete parts need to be phased out during an interim period to make way for the new. Clearly from what you say, you have three strings with the smaller metric balls and one with the older ¼” which is why you cannot fit the `E` into your Chinese Squire. The set you have has probably been in stock some time now as we rarely ever get our players mention this problem anymore. Mind you flatwounds are not a quick seller and nothing like roundwounds. As a large company Paul we certainly cannot make `specials` or custom strings as these are made in their thousands every day on state of the art machines using standard stocked materials. We do not sell direct to the public either, only the trade through dealers, shops and the like. So, this is what I will do to help you. If you give me your address I will send you out a 105 `E` string with our compliments which will obviously have the smaller metric ball attached and will fit the bill. Excellent customer service from Rotosound i think!

Brill, cheers for the offer mate. Doubt itll be sorted so quick but thanks anyway. While your there tell them they have a few emails waiting about the used rivoli they have

Will do. Being in Manchester its a bit of a trek unless i can pursuade Mrs Pow for a day out in Camden, so could really do with shipping

Ive been using the above strings for a while (recently been messing with Picato's however). A new problem ive encountered tho is that on my Squire Telebass (string thru body) the E strings bullet is too big to fit through the ferrule on the back of the body. All the other strings fit through fine its literally just the E string. I dont really want to be dropping a gauge just to fit the E string. Anyone know if its possible to take a ball end off one of my old sets G, D or A and fit it to my new E string? The G, D and A all fit fine its just the E i have a problem with.

Ive seen a used bass on the bass gallery website that im very interested in, I have emailed them to see if they offer shipping within UK and had no response. Ive tried several phone calls but cant seem to get an answer. I assume they are still trading? Anyone else had any dealings with Bass Gallery?

Cheers casapete. Just stuck an order in for my fave picato's

Traded my black one in (similar to Andy Bell's but reissue) for my tele bass. Great range of sounds and sounds mean with flats using the 'bass setting' through a valve rig. Traded it in at Manchester Bass Lounge and i believe its still for sale on their website

Just remember to leave it on stand-by as soon as you get there to let the valves warm up properly. Cant beat the sound of a nice warm valve! When im using my sound city at gigs i often get the early, set my rig up andc just leave it on stand by while i have a few drinks and wait for the band to arrive, by the time i hit the first note its usually been on for an hour (probbaly overkill but sounds immense!)

This is my all time dream amp!

An epiphone rivoli in sunburst. SIngle pickup version and even maybe the 90's reissues. All because i saw Baz Fratelli playing one in the Twang video for ''We're A Crowd'' and it looked fookin amazin!

Ive got the wax-dipped P bass pickup in my precision. Like it so much i got rid of the wizard thumper and wizard Trad i had lined up to go in my other P bass projects