Rotosound flatwounds?
- Thread starter lungimsam
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mellowgerman
Senior Member
I am not a fan. I've bought a few sets over the last 10 years or so, just to come back to them and give em another go, but everytime I'm disappointed by the inconsistency. Seems they have a tendency to feel, sound, and look different from string to string. Same experience with their flatwound guitar strings. Maybe they've gone downhill since their glory days in the past?
That said, this is kind of the same issue I have with TI flatwounds, though TI and RS have a fundamentally different formula. The RS strings are definitely on the higher tension side.
That said, this is kind of the same issue I have with TI flatwounds, though TI and RS have a fundamentally different formula. The RS strings are definitely on the higher tension side.
Last edited:
MacGuild
Member
I'm also not a big fan of Rotosound. Over the last few years I've tried two full sets of Roto and they just do not grab me for much the same reasons @mellowgerman stated, plus they had a relatively short life-span.
Maybe consider a set of Ernie Ball or DR Legend? I've been using Ernie Ball flatwounds on my Guild Pilot for about 2-years now and am impressed with them, they are nicely balanced both tonally and volume-wise, warm, and very responsive. GHS Precision are nice for warmth, too, and neither the Ernie Balls or GHS are super-expensive like Thomastik or Optima tend to be ($40 range versus $70 range), which puts them around the same price-point as Rotos.
Maybe consider a set of Ernie Ball or DR Legend? I've been using Ernie Ball flatwounds on my Guild Pilot for about 2-years now and am impressed with them, they are nicely balanced both tonally and volume-wise, warm, and very responsive. GHS Precision are nice for warmth, too, and neither the Ernie Balls or GHS are super-expensive like Thomastik or Optima tend to be ($40 range versus $70 range), which puts them around the same price-point as Rotos.
mellowgerman
Senior Member
If you haven't tried em yet, D'addario Black Nylon tapewounds are great on a Starfire too. Affordable, a little brighter than typical flats, low tension, and plenty of sustain. Medium-scale set fits a Starfire perfectly.
RVBASS
Member
I just put a set of LaBella low tension flats on one of my basses (not a Starfire) and I like them.
lungimsam
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The Roto SM77 flats on the Starfire felt great but the tone was very "velvety", or soft" or "powdered". Power and punch and volume the same but just more velvety sounding. Like, think pastel color instead of regular color. That's what it makes me think of. Pastel sounding instead of regular sounding. Good fundamental, though.
I put on Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats and they sound even better than Chromes so far. Just as bright, if not brighter. Fundamental great in Chromes and EB, too.
This is just for the Starfire. On my Ric bass, Chromes sound best. Weird how strings sound different on different basses.
I put on Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats and they sound even better than Chromes so far. Just as bright, if not brighter. Fundamental great in Chromes and EB, too.
This is just for the Starfire. On my Ric bass, Chromes sound best. Weird how strings sound different on different basses.
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
I used them for years on a vintage P Bass, quite growly for a flatwound, high tension, unreal harmonic overtones.
I switched them out for a set of TI Flats, lost a lot of overtones and the stiff strings, just wasn't the same and I sold the bass.
Every time I played it with the ten year old Rotosound flats I instantly knew I could never get rid of it, only because of TI's I was able to put it on the chopping block and see it go for something lighter and more compact.
I switched them out for a set of TI Flats, lost a lot of overtones and the stiff strings, just wasn't the same and I sold the bass.
Every time I played it with the ten year old Rotosound flats I instantly knew I could never get rid of it, only because of TI's I was able to put it on the chopping block and see it go for something lighter and more compact.