Rotosounds - Anybody use 'em?

[spellcaster]

I've used Rotosound's a couple of times....on my vintage Gibson EB-3 back in the early 80's and on my Univox Rickenbacker clone in the mid 70's. I thought they sounded pretty decent and I'm contemplating getting a set for the current Ric clone when it's done. The only negative I heard about them years ago was that they ate frets up fast, and I hesitated for quite a while before I put them on the EB-3. I never found any issues with them though. Anybody else out there that likes them/uses them?

[etechstan]

I'm in a rut and only use EBs on my basses and guitars.

[die Bullen]

I have Rotosounds on my Lark bass- pretty nice...

[Teleblooz]

I used to use them on my basses all the time. Yeah, they do wear frets but so will any roundwounds. I always liked their sound & feel.

[spellcaster]

I found out something really interesting last night about Rotosounds. The reason they're reputed to eat frets is that they're almost solid iron, as opposed to most roundwounds which are primarily nickel. Learn something every day!

Incidentally, this fact was one of a number of really interesting things I got from a site that contains interviews with John Hall of Rickenbacker. This is great reading for just about anybody interested in Rics.

John Hall Answers Questions About Rickenbacker Guitars

[spellcaster]

I've reread the John Hall article several times and keep finding out things that really surprise me. His statement that roundwound strings such as Rotosounds exert nearly 100 lb. greater tension force than a comparable flatwound really has my head working. I'm been relating that bit of information to some of the string choices I've made and how they interact with various scale lengths. It's got me thinking that if a particular guitar seems too stiff when I'm playing it, maybe a change to flatwounds would address that concern.

[YeahDoIt]

I like the sound of roundwound strings. I remember flatwound strings were less trebly, might be useful for playing in some bands, gives a real low tone sound.

[spellcaster]

I've got a set on the 4001 bass now, and having used the bass a few times, I'm happy. These are the cheaper nickel Rotosounds (about 20.00 locally) but I like them enough that I'd use them again. I'm also curious about the stainless steel ones that are about 45.00.