Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Lucifuge on May 02, 2010, 04:47:19 PM

Title: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: Lucifuge on May 02, 2010, 04:47:19 PM
I'd never noticed that much of a difference between different brands or types of strings (other than flatwounds) until now, when I fitted the Rotosound set that BK sent with my new pickups.

The only way to describe it is to say they sounded so dull and muffled that I kept checking to see if my shirt sleeve or something else was resting against the strings and muting them, or that I had accidentally turned the tone pot all the way down - in fact for a while I was worried that the pot might be on the blink.

I fitted a new set of Ernie Balls and everything is back where I expected, but what gives with these strings? Could it be that they are pure nickel rather than nickel-wound and that just doesn't suit me (the packaging doesn't make that very clear,) could I have got a dud batch, or are they just bad?

In contrast, the pickups sound just great and get my guitar sounding much closer to the way I imagine it should, so PDT_003 to Tim on that.

Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: Twinfan on May 02, 2010, 06:04:58 PM
I don't like the BKP strings either.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: HTH AMPS on May 02, 2010, 06:18:02 PM
I play 11s, so never tried BKP strings - the BKPs I've bought have come with 10s as far as I remember.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: jpfamps on May 02, 2010, 07:25:37 PM
I've never been a huge fan of Rotosound strings, although from my recent experiences they aren't as dead as they used to be.

I always used to use Ernie Ball Power Slinkys, but have now started using GHS Boomers which seem to stay brighter a bit longer than the Ernie Balls.



Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: HTH AMPS on May 02, 2010, 08:20:04 PM
I've been playing Pyramid pure nickel 11s for the past couple of years now and they last forever.  Before that I used Dr Duck 11s and they were great too, but the £/$ rate has killed the deal I was getting on those from the US.

Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: gordiji on May 02, 2010, 08:34:43 PM
when i put newies on, they always sound great whatever the brand because i get used to the old dull ones.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: dave_mc on May 02, 2010, 08:52:34 PM
i like rotos :lol:
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: Pete24v on May 02, 2010, 09:31:13 PM
Rotos 11's all the way, apart from my '62 reissue strat which has Ernie's Beefy Slinkys. Never had a dull tone with Rotos, in fact they have a nice upper sparkle
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: viking on May 03, 2010, 01:57:20 AM
I tried them once ...but not twice  :lol:!
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: Matt77 on May 03, 2010, 09:52:46 AM
I used to be able to get them for free.
I paid for other brands instead.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: Lucifuge on May 03, 2010, 10:51:38 AM
when i put newies on, they always sound great whatever the brand because i get used to the old dull ones.

That's partly the point; in this case, the new ones sounded duller than the old ones.

Note: the strings were not put on the same guitar as the new pickups, so maybe the strings are formulated to only sound good with BKPs or something :roll:
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: bucketbot on May 03, 2010, 10:52:19 AM
Hope Tim's reading this!
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: msplines on May 03, 2010, 11:18:24 AM
The best strings BKP ever supplied for me were the Framus pure nickels, I'm afraid I don't go much on the rotosounds either.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: AndyR on May 03, 2010, 11:25:56 AM
Have to admit I don't use the freebies because I use 11s (I give them to my nephew instead). But up until a few years ago I was a confirmed Rotosound user.

Can't rememeber how/why, but I got switched to D'Addario. I'll still buy/use Rotos in an emergency, though.

Ernie Ball's I always found too bright for me when they were new. Then they'd be "good" for a few days when worn in. Then they'd go off really quick for me. When I got into Rotos I found they were more like "worn in" Ernie Balls when you first put them on and stayed that way for quite a while before they went off.

I find the D'Addario's do roughly the same as the Rotos, but they "seem" to feel better for me, and they seem to last longer.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: 38thBeatle on May 03, 2010, 03:15:51 PM
I've used Rotos for ages and find them ok though I have just a few sets left before I start on my supply of DR's that a mate gave me.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: jpfamps on May 03, 2010, 08:16:52 PM
I've been playing Pyramid pure nickel 11s for the past couple of years now and they last forever.  Before that I used Dr Duck 11s and they were great too, but the £/$ rate has killed the deal I was getting on those from the US.



I've been offered some free Pyramid samples so I will have to give them a go.
Title: Re: Rotosound strings supplied with BK pickup sets.
Post by: gwEm on May 04, 2010, 08:39:04 AM
Have to admit I don't use the freebies because I use 11s (I give them to my nephew instead). But up until a few years ago I was a confirmed Rotosound user.

Can't rememeber how/why, but I got switched to D'Addario. I'll still buy/use Rotos in an emergency, though.

Ernie Ball's I always found too bright for me when they were new. Then they'd be "good" for a few days when worn in. Then they'd go off really quick for me. When I got into Rotos I found they were more like "worn in" Ernie Balls when you first put them on and stayed that way for quite a while before they went off.

I find the D'Addario's do roughly the same as the Rotos, but they "seem" to feel better for me, and they seem to last longer.

my experience is almost identical to andy's.

not keen on ernie ball's at all.

used to use feline strings, but found the low 50 too much for me. back on d'addario now