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Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Introducing the Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105, a set of round-wound stainless steel strings that have been a top choice of prominent bassists like Billy Sheehan, John Paul Jones, and Geddy Lee. Rotosound, the iconic British brand, made history by being the first to produce these innovative strings back in 1962. The RS66LD Swing Bass Strings are renowned for their bright, punchy tone, making them the perfect fit for rock and metal genres.
These strings are not just about the sound; they offer a balanced tension which makes them comfortable to play while still maintaining a responsive feel. The balanced gauge set from 45 to 105 provides a versatile tone, suitable for various musical styles. On top of that, the long scale length has been specifically tailored for standard 34" scale basses to maximize your instrument's potential.
What sets the RS66LD Swing Bass Strings apart is the round-wound stainless steel construction. This design results in a pure, articulate tone coupled with enhanced clarity. The stainless steel alloy is incredibly resistant to corrosion and sweat, ensuring long-lasting playability and consistent tone. Plus, the textured feel under your fingers adds a familiar touch for most rock and metal bassists.
Key Features:
- First ever round-wound stainless steel bass strings from Rotosound
- Bright, punchy tone ideal for rock and metal genres
- Balanced tension for comfortable play and responsive feel
- Balanced gauge set from 45 to 105 for a versatile tone
- Specifically tailored for standard 34" scale basses
- Highly resistant to corrosion and sweat due to the stainless steel alloy construction
- Textured feel under fingers for a familiar touch
- Long-lasting playability and consistent tone
Product specs
| Guitar Type | Electric Bass |
| Number of Sets | 1 |
| Coated | No |
| Gauges | .045, .065, .080, .105 |
| Winding Type | Round Wound |
| Core Material | Steel |
| Winding Material | Stainless Steel |
| Scale Length | Long, 32"-34" |
FAQs
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What is the tone characteristic of Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass strings?
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Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass strings are known for their bright, punchy tone with excellent clarity and sustain, making them ideal for rock, funk, and jazz styles.
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Are Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass strings suitable for long-scale bass guitars?
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Yes, the Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass strings are designed for long-scale bass guitars, fitting scale lengths of 32"-34".
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What material are Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass strings made from?
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These strings are made from stainless steel with a steel core, providing durability and a bright sound.
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Do Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass strings have a coating?
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No, Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass strings are not coated, which contributes to their natural feel and bright tone.
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What gauges are included in the Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass set?
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The Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass set includes gauges .045, .065, .080, and .105.
Videos
RS66LD
RS66LD ROTOSOUND
RS66LD ROTOSOUND
RS66LD
Drum & Bass Groove
Timo Orlandi
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105.
User experience
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Despite their rough texture, Rotosound 66 strings are favored for their bright, aggressive tone that suits Fender basses, especially when seeking a punchy, articulate sound.
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Players report that the Rotosound Swing 66s provide an exceptional bright tone when used with a pick, highlighting the strings' versatility across different playing styles.
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Rotosound RS66LD strings are noted for their aggressive, punchy sound with J pickups, enhancing their growly and clear tone.
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Rotosound strings are known for their distinctive "piano string growl," which is particularly noticeable on instruments like the Rickenbacker 4003.
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Customer service for Rotosound is highlighted positively, with helpful support when addressing string issues.
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Despite the rough feel, some users appreciate the initial attack and distinctive tone Rotosound strings provide, especially for recording purposes.
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It's observed that Rotosound strings may cause faster fret wear, especially on fretless basses.
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Features and functionality
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It's noted that the Rotosound Swing 66 strings can bring out a growly midrange on Jazz Basses, ideal for genres requiring prominent bass presence.
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Rotosound 66 strings are available in various gauges, with the 45-65-80-105 set being a popular choice due to its balance between brightness and playability.
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Comparisons
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The stainless steel Rotosound Swing 66s offer more grit and brightness than the nickel-plated version, making them a better choice for players seeking a more aggressive sound.
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Users find that DR strings offer a smoother feel and longer lifespan compared to Rotosound, but Rotosound is preferred for its unique tonal qualities.
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Users note that Dunlop Super Bright Stainless Steels maintain their "zing" longer than Rotosound strings, which can lose brightness after a week.
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Rotosound strings are compared to DR Black Beauties, which are described as less stiff and growler, with a twang similar to Rotosounds.
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Use cases and applications
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Rotosound Swing 66 strings are frequently recommended for Fender Jazz Bass due to their aggressive tone, enhancing the instrument's natural brightness and punch.
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Rotosound strings are praised for maintaining a bright tone longer than Ernie Ball Slinkies, making them ideal for players seeking a consistently aggressive sound.
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Setup and maintenance
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It's observed that Rotosound strings can cause significant fret wear on softer frets, especially on fretless basses, due to their coarse stainless steel construction.
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4.5 out of 5
Based on 12 Reviews and 46 Ratings
4869
Simply, the best bass strings ever
Bright sounding, long lasting (to me at least, I barely sweat), and when they die the don't become this dead sounding string like most nickel strings that have pretty much no definition and because they are made of Stainless Steel they keep pretty much pristine for a loooong while (just look at Joe Dart Jazz Bass that had already old Swing 66 strings when he got it and used them until he got the Music Man) also they are aren't too tense but they are a little bit stiff on the first two strings, so low action is pretty much must do for that classic Rotosound clank
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Low action!
418
Legendary tone. Unmatched durability. Nothing more to ask.
I'll be honest. This string is known for its clothesline like stiffness and sandpaper like roughness. however, its legendary tone cannot be matched by any brand. and as an Indonesian and its extreme tropical climate, plus my toxic sweats, stainless steel is indeed the most logical option. fresh or dead, still loud enough to defeat any string. trust me, I've been using Ernie Ball Cobalts, Elixir Coated, and D'Addario chromes, or Dr pure blues, and they all crumble to rust. And the Rotosounds? Well in 3 months still crisp and fresh, 6 months merely some dirty stains, then 2 years already and it hasn't rusted either. The only close second was the ErnieBall hybrid Stainless Steel Slinkies.
3670
these are bad after trying DR
I used to use these when I started out, the sound is alright. They destroy your frets and your fingers like no other rounds and also die very quickly. I replaced these with DR sunbeams on my yamaha about a year ago and they still have signs of life in them.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Replaced with DR anything pretty much.
670
great sound, i want bigger gauge on the E string
i personally want a higher gauge on the e string. these strings instantly had a colorful sound. the A string at first was overly noisy, but that went away with use. the strings sound so natural to me, i dare say articulate. i have the string on my gretsch g5123b hollowbody bass. the string really give the bass a 50's or 60's sound, and sounds great when playing acousticly. their is some things i like about daddario strings which i'd like to have in a rotosound set. i'm definitely going to look at other rotosound models to see which is best for me. also, if your play extremely downed tune songs, this set most likely not for you.
94
they are some good strings
if you want a nice bass tone, go for those strings, they are absolute monsters! the thing i hate about them that they are kinda harsh for me (playing agressive fingersyle) and they can make your fingers hurt even doe u have callusses Edit: Now I play only Stainless Steel, I got used to them.
7287
You know, Cliff Burton played agressive fingerstyle with the same kind of strings in a lighter gauge, maybe some 45-90s would work better for you aswell.
8195
More versatile than you think
Seeing the artists generally associated with these strings might let you think they're only great for various kinds of rock. They're not. I've been slapping, thumping and picking away at these for most of my time on bass and they've never failed to deliver. The reason I first chose them was simply because they were among the cheapest on offer that day, but having tried Bass Boomers, Trace Elliotts and many more since, I must say that they don't have anything to boast about compared to the Rotosounds.
437
For me on my fretless it gives that real pastorius growl.
127
The Best
The are they best sounding string for a bright aggressive tone. I use the 50-110 set tuned to Eb Standard and Drop C#
Artist usage
Add artist
Mani was seen using Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 strings at the V Festival 2012 in Chelmsford, as evidenced by the silk colors of the strings and ball ends visible in the provided image.
In the 1980s, Mike Mills used Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 strings on his modified Rickenbacker bass, identifiable by the distinctive red silk wrapping at both ends of the strings, as evidenced by a photograph on TalkBass.
His sign says: "I USe Rotosound Because Rotosound get me!"[sic!]
In a 2013 Facebook post, Zeta Bosio revealed that he used his Precision Bass, purchased in the late 1980s, with Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 strings. The distinctive silk ends of these strings are visible on the bridge and neck of his bass. This setup can also be observed in the MTV Unplugged performance, "Ultimo Concierto" DVD, and "Me Verás Volver." The proof is supported by an image where these strings are clearly identifiable, aside from that in 2021 Rotosound Latinoamerica published a video with Zeta mentioning he still uses these strings on his basses
In this 1995 Rotosound advertisement for their Swing Bass 66LD Bass strings, Shows LoMenzo and states: "ROTO'S STILL THE BEST! -James LoMenzo"
In addition, LoMenzo's gear page reads:
"No Roto's, no show!!! I haven't played or recorded with any other string since 1974, that's a fact! I started out on their "Flat Wounds" then moved on to the standard "Swing Bass" stainless steels. Since the late 1980's, I've been using the "Billy Sheehan" signature set (see a pattern here?). They feel more balanced in my hands and that heavier E string really takes the hall!"
Steven Severin is confirmed to use Rotosound strings as seen by the red silk on his basses in live performances of Siouxsie and the Banshees, also Siouxsie and the Banshees are listed as Rotosound artists on the company's website
In the image provided, the bright red string ends visible on Haruomi Hosono's bass are indicative of the Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 strings.
In this video, the Captain says he uses Rotosound RS66 strings on bass for the 2022 reunion tour
Mick Karn used Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 strings at some point during the Japan era of his career, as evidenced by the distinctive red silk at the headstock of his bass visible in the provided image and during some live performances.
Bruce Foxton is confirmed to use Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 strings, as he is listed as a Rotosound player on the official Rotosound Music Strings website.
Joe Lally has been observed using Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 strings since the 1990s, identifiable by the red silk at both ends of the strings, as evidenced in the image provided on Equipboard.
Album Usage
The Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105 has been featured on the following albums:
Rack
The Jesus Lizard (2024)
Come & Get It
Badfinger (2020)
Naughty Boys (2019 Bob Ludwig Remastering)
Yellow Magic Orchestra (2019)
Gira Me Verás Volver
Soda Stereo (2008)
Operation: Mindcrime II
Queensrÿche (2006)
El Ultimo Concierto A (Remastered)
Soda Stereo (1997)
(What's The Story) Morning Glory? (Deluxe Remastered Edition)
Oasis (1995)
Insomniac
Green Day (1995)
Dookie
Green Day (1994)
Gish (Remastered)
The Smashing Pumpkins (1991)
Bleach
Nirvana (1989)
...And Justice for All (Remastered)
Metallica (1988)
Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division (1979)
School's Out
Alice Cooper & Alice Cooper (1972)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Rotosound RS66LD Swing Bass 45-105, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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