Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi,
I was wondering which brands of strings are as efficient as Rotosound. I'd like to mount my 4003 with a set of 45-105. I want sustain and piano ringing tone, but I'd like to know which RW strings can do it as well as Rotosound...
Thanks in advance,
All the best,
JL

Jean- none can - i have tried the stainless Ernie balls - the sound the same but cant hold their tone as long as rotos's, and feel rougher. Other brands may be as good but you have to pay for it .

Over here in England, Rotos are the cheapest brand as they are made here. I use a mail order company that only charges £13.75 a set. They are great guys, and as far as i know will ship overseas.

Nothing beats the rotos.

Hey Jean, Funny you should ask this question today! I just re-strung my 4003 yesterday with a set of DR Low Riders stainless steel 45 – 105. I replaced a set of flats that just wasn’t doing it for me. I’ve read a lot on this forum regarding Ricks and flats but it just doesn’t work for me. Regarding the Low Riders: I have them on my V63 and also on my Fender P. Great strings! Nice biting sound – no problem getting that Squire sound if that’s what you’re into. And they have a nice fat bottom particularly as you move down the neck. Easy on the fingers and neck and appear to have longevity. I think they’re a high quality string for $24 US.

By the way, I’ll be heading over to Europe this afternoon. Heading to Germany for some bus.

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks to both of you. If the Low Riders are smooth, then maybe I'll try to mount a set of these. Otherwise, I'll go back to RS66...

Andy, if you have time to visit the South of France, you're my guest !

Jean stick to the RS66 - theres no substitute based on sound, feel, life and price. If the rotos work for you stick to em

Owen, please can you give me the name (or URL) of the mail order company you purchase your Rotos from ? Many thanks.

yep, its www.stringsdirect.co.uk

I checked the catalog of theirs for you Jean, they will ship overseas but you must call them to find out shipping charges. As you are in France it shouldnt be too much i would think, if you order a bunch of sets itll be well worth it.

The UK phone number is 01702 290001

- explore the website, they do tons of stuff.

Many thanks Owen, I'm gonna check all this...

Jean, have you ever used the Ric nickle strings? they have a nice bright sound and are sweeter sounding than Rotos, they compliment a Ric nicely, I usually use flatwounds but if I want the round wound sound I use the Rics, they are the original equipment strings. they last a long time too. They are also less stiff then rotos.

Bob, if you're talking about the strings that are mounted as standard on any new RIC, yes I know them. And I like them. Unfortunately, they are impossible to find here...

Owen,

I received the parcel from Strings Direct this morning. After paying shipment, I saved about 7 p. cent from the street price, but the coolest thing is that I didn't have to drive for a set of strings.

Now that I experienced that these people are serious, next time I'll buy a stock of strings.

Many thanks again for this precious information,

All the best,
JL

Glad it all worked out Jean,

Yeah they are a serious company. If i order at lunchtime on a weekday, i get my stuff the next day (unless the mail is screwed up)

last time i ordered roto swings from them, the D string was corroded and looked about 5 yrs old out of the packet. They said "Rotosound takes this stuff seriously" and i was sent 2 - YES TWO! - replacement sets, plus some picks to cover the cost of me posting the bad strings back!

They are good guys

Thanks for this information Owen.
I'm going to mount my Rotos this Friday. Hopefully none will be corroded...

Many thanks again,

All the best,
JL

Owen,

I mounted my Rotos and they are perfect. No corrosion here...

BTW, their slightly heavier gauge had no incidence on the neck, and I did not have to adjust it.

All the best,
JL

Hey Andy,

Are those DR's easy on the frets on your Ricks so far?