world famous music strings • made in england welcome 2008 has been a landmark year for Rotosound Music Strings. Incredibly it is 50 string catalogue years since my father, James How founded the company. Half a century which has seen popular music evolve from the early pioneers of rock n’ roll recording onto black plastic discs to the broad pallette of styles currently available to 33rd edition download from a small box of electrical components connected to your telephone line. Contents Introduction 3 Times change, certain principles do not. The foundation blocks on which Electric Guitar Strings 4 Rotosound was built in 1958 are still in place. We are manufacturers in the true Acoustic Guitar Strings 8 sense of the word. James built the original machines himself - the current Classical Guitar Strings 10 production line utilises modern technology built in house by our R&D department. Bass Guitar Strings 12 Traditional Instrument Strings 20 The contribution made by Rotosound to modern music is not to be Orchestral & Jazz Strings 22 underestimated. Always prepared to listen to the requests of musicians, we OEM Unpacked Strings 24 worked with John Entwistle in the mid 1960’s to produce what is now known worldwide as the Swing Bass 66 set. Listen to any of the Who’s finest recordings Steve Diggle - you will hear the 66’s. Our association with Jimi Hendrix is well documented. The Buzzcocks Go through the decades, with bands such as Iron Maiden, Guns n’ Roses, Oasis, Pink Floyd, Rush, Led Zeppelin - Rotosound are ever-present. We continue this legacy today, supporting new talent and developing new products which will, hopefully be as famous in fifty years time. We understand what makes a good string - we have had plenty of practice. Jason How Chairman Dave Pybus Company Founder James How Cradle of Filth and The Who’s John Entwistle Pictured from top: The Jimi Hendrix Experience Steve Harris Pink Floyd Guthrie Govan FREEPHONE 0800 525547 TOLL FREE 1-800-675-2501 Walter Trout 3 Rotos (Nickel on Steel) Developed in conjunction with some of the worlds top artists, these unique sets deliver a smooth powerful tone that lasts while electric guitar other strings have long gone dead. Superb brilliance and strength make Roto’s the first choice for the professional. Available in all the popular gauges, 12 string sets, 7 string sets and custom made singles for the discerning tone-head! Please note: w denotes wound string E B G D A E B E B G D A E B R8 Roto Greens - Extra Light 8 11 14 22w 30w 38w - RH10 Roto Blues - Lt Top/Hvy Bot 10 13 17 30w 42w 52w - R9 Roto Pinks - Super Light 9 11 16 24w 32w 42w - R11 Roto Reds - Medium* 11 14 18 28w 38w 48w - R12 Roto Purples - Medium Hvy* 12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w - R13 Roto Greys - Heavy* 13 17 26w 34w 44w 54w - 12 String Sets R30XL Double Six Extra Light 8 10 8 11 17 22w - 8 10 14 24w 32w 40w - R30SL Double Six Super Light 9 12 9 12 20w 26w - 9 12 20 26w 36w 46w - R30EL Double Six Regular 10 14 10 14 22w 28w - 10 14 22w 28w 38w 48w - * Ideal for detuning E B G D A E B RH9 Roto Orange - Hybrid 9 11 16 26w 36w 46w - R10 Roto Yellows - Regular 10 13 17 26w 36w 46w - Custom Gauge Single Strings NP 008-026 Plain Singles High Grade Plated Steel 7 String Sets NC 018-060 Covered Singles Nickel Plated Steel R9-7 7 String Set - Super Light 9 11 16 24w 32w 42w 52w Custom Gauge Singles Box R10-7 7 String Set - Regular 10 13 17 26w 36w 46w 56w GB1 Contains 10 each NP 008 - NP 026 R11-7 7 String Set - Medium* 11 14 18 28w 38w 48w 58w Contains 5 each NC 018 - NC 056 5 British Steels (Stainless Steel) With high iron content ferritic stainless steel covers this set offers a clear, bright punchy sound, electric guitar positive grip and plenty of twang! Available in the following gauges: Please note: w denotes wound string E B G D A E BS9 9 11 16 24w 32w 42w BS10 10 13 17 26w 36w 46w BS11 11 14 18 28w 38w 48w Nexus Electric (Polymer Coated) Mention a Type 52 pure nickel alloy string to discerning guitarists and they will tell you about the extra lift that the higher magnetism offers. Now shroud it with a special black polycoat material and you have a high energy string smooth to the touch, rich in warm tones with extended life. Available in the following gauges: Please note: w denotes wound string E B G D A E NXE9 9 11 16 24w 32w 42w NXE10 10 13 17 26w 36w 46w Pure Nickels (Nickel) Our best ‘top of the range electrics’ yet comprising solid nickel covers, with exceptional magnetic response, volume, clarity and tone. Truly the creme-de-la-creme of guitar strings! Available in the following gauges: Please note: w denotes wound string Pictured from left: David McCabe - The Zutons E B G D A E Ginger PN9 9 11 16 24w 32w 42w Franz Ferdinand PN10 10 13 17 26w 36w 46w PN11 11 14 18 28w 38w 48w Top Tape (Monel) Exceptionally smooth flatwounds ideal for fusion, jazz or to simply reduce finger noise in the studio. Please note: w denotes wound string E B G D A E RS200 12 16 24w 32w 42w 52w Matt Tuck Steph Carter Bullet for my Valentine Gallows FREEPHONE 0800 525547 TOLL FREE 1-800-675-2501 7 Tru Bronze (80/20 Bronze) Our alternative acoustic guitar string to the 92/8 series. Comprising brass wire covers, these acoustic guitar strings offer the resonant advantages of such coupled with considerable clarity and tone, available in the following gauges: Please note: w denotes wound string E B G D A E TB10 10 14 20w 28w 40w 50w TB11 11 15 22w 30w 42w 52w Super Bronze (Phosphor Bronze) TB12 12 16 24w 32w 44w 54w Originally known as Country Gold’s, a great sounding acoustic string due to it’s ‘contact core’ design. Pioneered by Rotosound in 1974. The choice for long sustain and brightness, these strings also slightly reduce the action on any instrument, available in five, six string gauges only. Please note: w denotes wound string E B G D A E SB9 9 13 18 26w 38w 48w SB10 10 14 20w 28w 40w 50w SB11 11 15 22w 30w 42w 52w SB12 12 16 24w 32w 44w 54w SB13 13 17 26w 34w 46w 56w The Holloways Jumbo King (Phosphor Bronze) Our best selling acoustic string. Phosphor Bronze wound Acoustic Guitar strings with superb warm tone, clarity and sustain. Favoured by such artists as John Renbourn and Bob Geldof. Contact Core Design Available in five, six string gauges and three, twelve string gauges. Please note: w denotes wound string E B G D A E JK9 9 13 18 26w 38w 48w Nexus Acoustic (Phosphor Bronze, Clear Coated) JK10 10 14 20w 28w 40w 50w Take a great acoustic string from our JK range, give it a smooth polycoat dressing and you have JK11 11 15 22w 30w 42w 52w `Nexus Bronze` the string for the next generation of acoustic sound. It offers a unique tone of its JK12 12 16 24w 32w 44w 54w own with the usual enriched highs giving way to softer gentle mid-tones with a smooth feel, JK13 13 17 26w 34w 46w 56w longer life and tarnish prevention built in. Available in the following gauges: JK30SL 9 12 9 12 20 26w 12 String Set Please note: w denotes wound string 9 12 20w 26w 36w 46w JK30EL 10 14 8 12 18 28w E B G D A E 12 String Set 10 14 24w 30w 40w 48w NXA10 10 14 20w 28w 40w 50w JK30L 11 14 10 12 20w 26w NXA11 11 15 22w 30w 42w 52w 12 String Set 11 14 24w 30w 38w 52w NXA12 12 16 24w 32w 44w 54w FREEPHONE 0800 525547 TOLL FREE 1-800-675-2501 9 classical guitar Superia Classical Guitar Strings Grade 1 Professional Both sets come with silver wound basses and nylon trebles. CL 1’s have ballends whilst CL 2’s Grade 1 ‘Superia Pro’ classical guitar strings are manufactured to a high are regular tie on sets. Ideal strings for classical guitars where a crisp bright tone is required tension characteristic specifically designed for fingerstyle playing. The wound strings are Silver Plated Copper on a Nylon Core and the plain strings are CL 1 Superia (ball end - nylon, normal tension) high quality rectified Nylon. NN 1, 2, 3 (trebles) NNC 4, 5, 6 (basses) CL 3 Superia Pro (Grade 1 Professional) NRH 1, 2, 3 High quality rectified nylon NRH 4, 5, 6 Silver plated copper/nylon core Grade 1 ‘Black n’ Silver’ classical guitar strings are manufactured to a normal tension characteristic specifically designed for fingerstyle playing. The wound strings are Silver Plated Copper on a Nylon Core and the plain strings are high quality rectified Black Nylon. CL 4 Black n’ Silver (Grade 1 Professional) BS 1, 2, 3 High quality rectified black nylon BS 4, 5, 6 Silver plated copper/nylon core Grade 1 ‘Silk n’ Steel’ guitar strings are manufactured to a medium charac- teristic specifically designed for fingerstyle playing. The wound strings are Silver Plated Copper on a Nylon and Steel Core and the plain strings are high quality plated Steel.