Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi all
I've been a Rotosound swing66 user on my rics for many years. I've always found that the rotos are more flexable than any other string in the same gauge. However with the fairly recent purchase of a 74 4001 project with worn frets, I don't really want to grind the rest of the frets off with rotos. I'm also not sure if I want to go for flats yet either.
I'm reading good reports about Elixir strings with great string life and suspect that they work well on the 74 and be a bit less aggressive on the frets.
Has anyone else used both brands? Are the Elixirs tighter or looser than the Rotos (I don't want to fit a tighter string to a Ric for the sake of both it and my arthritic hands)
Hows the tone. I've always liked the "full frequency" tone of Rotos and have heard plenty of nickel strings with "twang, with nothing to back it up" Where do the Elixirs sit tonewise?
I don't change the strings as often as I should and what used to last me 4 gigs now has to last 4 years (which in hindsight is still about 4 gigs) so a long lasting string is a good idea (perhaps it is time to try flats)

Opinions?

emac.

Its only fret wear!
Stick with the Rotos,get a fret dress and keep taking the Cod liver oil for your arthritis.
( Playing guitar is good for arthritis according to a doctors report I read a few years ago.)
If you drive a lot or do heavy lifting/grabbing you might find its that rather than the guitar irritating your knuckles.
Keep gently flexing your hands, get your arms relaxed and loose and DONT clench or over stretch your hands as a warm up before playing.

Ive had deep fret wear over the years with RS66LDs but its worth it for the sound.

All the best.
pete.

weemac wrote:Hi all
...I'm also not sure if I want to go for flats yet either.

Not of a certain age yet?

I have been using TI Jazz Rounds JR344 strings on one of my 4001s. These strings are extremely flexible so you might like them. They have a small outer wrap wire that feels smoother than any other RW string and is quite long lasting with great wide frequency response.

Its only fret wear!
Stick with the Rotos,get a fret dress and keep taking the Cod liver oil for your arthritis.


Thats the sort of anwser I would expect from a "Yesman"
Well you are right about the tone, on my rm1999 I've put on some new strings (you know the ones that start with "Da") and then removed them and refitted the dead rotos as I don't like the high tension or the nasty sound of the "DAs"
With fresh rotos I can get the "star licks" sound (you know the video I mean) on the rm, full but with bite when neccessary.

However If I dress the frets on the 74 it will be a fretless and I dont fancy refreting a bound neck right at the moment so really I think the rotos might not be the anwser for this bass.
emac.

Not of a certain age yet?


Well actually I'm scared I might really like them too much and have to reinvent my whole outlook and aproach to playing....
emac.

weemac wrote:Not of a certain age yet?


Well actually I'm scared I might really like them too much and have to reinvent my whole outlook and aproach to playing....
emac.

Try them. I never thought that Brian Crisman would use them but he now likes flats quite a bit. I also turned a friend of mine here in Cleveburg onto them and he is in love with his tone now.

Yeah, there's something about the sound of those Rotosounds.
Nothing like em'.

2112 wrote:Yeah, there's something about the sound of those Rotosounds.
Nothing like em'.

Anything but Rotosound Rounds on a Rick is Bass blasphemy!

GHS Flats Light (Stainless Steel) $22.99. Never played with TIs but I don't like rotosounds.

I use Elixers on all my basses and guitars and I like the sound better for bass then Roto's. Beside that Roto's sound dead to me after a month of use and the Elixers last for more then a year. They feel better for my fingers to.

gothbin wrote:I use Elixers on all my basses and guitars and I like the sound better for bass then Roto's. Beside that Roto's sound dead to me after a month of use and the Elixers last for more then a year. They feel better for my fingers to.

Do the Elixirs have more of less tension than the rotos?

emac.

The way I feel it, they have less tension.

weemac wrote:Do the Elixirs have more of less tension than the rotos?

emac.

AFAIK Elixers are D'Addario strings with Gore's coating.

AFAIK Elixers are D'Addario strings with Gore's coating.[/quote]

Well that probably writes them off for me....
emac.

I heard that story too, but I gave them I try and really liked them. They are not cheap, at least not in the Netherlands but hey tone is tone and one needs a good one......