EssentialTension Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I hate the sound and the feel of Rotosound 66s, at least I did 25 years ago when I last played some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 They do take some playing in. The 66s I got fot free after the last Roto thread are just about right now. Fitted em about a month after they arrived. Been through the inital klanky phase, and the dull phase, now they seem good to go. Never had fret issues with Rotos, although I've only ever tried Swing Bass, nor sore fingers. But maybe thats down to indiviuals skin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 What about Rotosound flats? I have a set on my Precision at the moment. Not sure I'll keep them on for long though. They sounded great when recording EofF's acoustic demo but I've been unhappy with them in rehearsals thus far and haven't gigged them yet. Also find them quite hard to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 [quote name='D.I. Joe' timestamp='1343474095' post='1751214'] What about Rotosound flats? I have a set on my Precision at the moment. Not sure I'll keep them on for long though. They sounded great when recording EofF's acoustic demo but I've been unhappy with them in rehearsals thus far and haven't gigged them yet. Also find them quite hard to play. [/quote] I always use flats and I could live with the Roto flats if I had to but I don't really like their feel or tone either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looper Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I bought roto's for my first change of strings in years. Was looking for a 70's sound so thought I'd buy strings that have been around since then. Do seem to be hard on the frets and I don't have much fret left in places. Anyone recommend a 70's sounding string that's kinder to the frets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Looper' timestamp='1343477436' post='1751264'] I bought roto's for my first change of strings in years. Was looking for a 70's sound so thought I'd buy strings that have been around since then. Do seem to be hard on the frets and I don't have much fret left in places. Anyone recommend a 70's sounding string that's kinder to the frets? [/quote] Back then i used to use Picato, mainly cos of the price and availability though. Only went back to Rotos a few years ago, they do seem to be harder and klankier than they used to be, but that could just be me. I dont think I'll be going back after the ones I have got are finished. Edited July 28, 2012 by BRANCINI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cameronj279 Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Rotosound strings are the only ones I've tried that I actually really disliked. I love the sound of brand new, fresh and clanky strings. The rotosounds I bought (I think it was the swing strings? Orange box) lost the nice new sound within 10 hours of playing. Probably the only brand of strings I wouldn't buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I guess it depends what you're after. horses for courses and all that. I love the warm, thumpy-yet-still-growl-when-you-dig vibe that yuo get with worn in Rotosounds. Other guys will like them when they are clangy and fresh, other guys will avaoid them like the plague. I personally really dislike EB Slinkies yet they are probably the most popular strings our there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) For about 20 years I used roto swing bass strings on my bass. I must have played 1,000 gigs during that time. I've owned the bass since 1984 and I've never had to have a refret. After trying slinkys and DR strings for a couple of years I've recently returned to rotosound and I really like them. Edited July 28, 2012 by gjones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.I. Joe Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I think its interesting how some people complain that 66s cause a lot of fret wear and others don't notice it so much. I wonder if there is more to it than the strings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 Maybe how hard you fret or play? I barely fret at all and play very lightly. I love Rotos. I keep trying other things but nothing else seems to have the punch. And yes, I too love the rough feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 I actually like tougher strings too, my fingers... Kind of slip off the smoother ones especially when I start to sweat! Still, don't like rotosoubds either. Nothing really wrong with them they just don't work for me sound wise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted July 28, 2012 Share Posted July 28, 2012 (edited) I like the 66 nickels. The steels killed my frets, but I was in a phase of very heavy fretting and fret 'clank'... . Even if you have steel frets they'll eat them over time: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Hz_d3JPs0&feature=plcp[/media] What's lovely about them is the tone (the nickels are great IMO). 3:20 lol Edited July 28, 2012 by PlungerModerno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Rich Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 (edited) Love the sound of fresh Rotos, but I seem to kill a set stone dead after about 10 hours playing. They feel quite "grabby" under the fingers, but don't most stainless steel strings? Back in the late 80s / early 90s their quality control was terrible, lots of dead strings straight out of the packet and breakages. Didn't have any problems with the sets I bought recently but I won't using them again because they don't last. These days I use DR Highbeams for clangyness, EB Slinkys for when I want a smoother sound, and Status Hotwires if I want a zingy top end but with lots of bassy fundamental ooomph. Edited July 29, 2012 by Fat Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL POSTERS Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Rotos used to seem to last better. i did wonder whether the ones I'd been using were oriental fakes, or had been swapped for cheapos - had been getting em off ebay - but tbh, the freebie ones seem about the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_Arlita Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I've been putting the absolute cheapest of cheap bass strings on my Rick from Ebay the last few times I've restrung it and I can't tell the difference between them and Rotosounds...might say something about them! I agree they are very harsh on the fingers, going to be switching to flats next time around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AttitudeCastle Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 What was the brand? Legacy? The strings which were identical to Rotosounds but much cheaper, and someone on here found a Rotosound "checked by" stubb in a packet. If they did those in the gauges I use I'd use them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 So it [b]is[/b] true! I'd always assumed it was just and only me. Thanks for bringing this to the table. Off building leather then. best, bert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mog Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 [quote name='chrismuzz' timestamp='1343501507' post='1751537'] I actually like tougher strings too, my fingers... Kind of slip off the smoother ones especially when I start to sweat! Still, don't like rotosoubds either. Nothing really wrong with them they just don't work for me sound wise [/quote] Give Dean Markley Blue Steels a go lad. Similar enough to Roto's feel wise but IMO they are infinitely superior in the tone department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMPEG Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 Funny you should raise this....I always used Rotosound. When I bought an Overwater bass i stuck with the strings they were delivered with and they were superb. when the time came to change them I instinctively bought Rotosound Swing strings and off to the gig I went. Same thing I am a finger player and the strings were sticking on my fingers as though the winding wasn't smoothed down. I think their manufacturing technique and or their quality control has dropped. I have now bought Picato strings which are made in the UK...apparently they make custom guages for Overwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 [quote name='Mog' timestamp='1343577080' post='1752242'] Give Dean Markley Blue Steels a go lad. Similar enough to Roto's feel wise but IMO they are infinitely superior in the tone department. [/quote] They look good but ouch they're a lot more expensive than my preferred brands! Might check em out as a little treat sometime though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushers Posted July 29, 2012 Author Share Posted July 29, 2012 i have noticed something else since changing out the roto's i had recently learnt some new songs and was playing them along with the utube vids but always sounded slightly out of tune to them i put it down to the encoding of youtube, but now with new strings im in tune with the same clips ! im thinking i had a duff set or maybe just a string rotosounds had always felt rougher but i dont remember them being that rough and definatly not had tuning issues before that said the roughness and the sudden death of the twang is enough to put me off for a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 I've got a set of Roto Nickels on my Fenderbird, and they're OK, but I'll probably try DRs or Newtones when I change them soon. One annoyance was the silk winding, which interfered with the saddle on my Supertone. I never understand why string manufacturers put silks on the bottom end of the string - it's just a problem waiting to happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 The silks I found come loose quite easily, whereas on some other brands they're much more nicely put together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelk27 Posted July 29, 2012 Share Posted July 29, 2012 [quote name='Muzz' timestamp='1343588911' post='1752462']I never understand why string manufacturers put silks on the bottom end of the string - it's just a problem waiting to happen.[/quote] It used to be to prevent the welt from fraying. These days, though, there's no need for it, unless Rotosound is saying that it isn't capable of making a sting that's bound to modern standards. Personally, I just see Rotosound's use of windings as a waste of the planets diminishing resources. It would no doubt spout some b*ll*cks about brand identity and marketing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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