Rotosound Top Tape Monel Flatwound?

[SirGawain]

I can confirm that RotoSound RS200 Top Tape strings are, indeed, made the same way as every other generic flat wound out there. That said, they're jolly affordable here. I haven't tried them since the change from Monel to stainless steel, because the existing old set still sounds great.

I contacted the company directly to get the facts. Jason How, the chairman of RotoSound, responded to my query via his GM, John R Doughty, thus:

"Our RS200 now employ ferritic stainless ribbon. They were made of Monel 400 for many years but due to so many players having nickel allergies we have since changed to Chrome/Iron stainless, with no nickel.

Your confusing is the result of timing on our part between website updates and the age of the packaging. Cardboard boxes go back 5 years when we went over to foil packs. Our apologies for the confusion."

It seems that their sympathy for players with nickel allergies doesn't extend to the entire rest of their range, except for the "British Steels". I suspect the decision was greatly influenced by Monel costing as much as ten-times the price of similar nickel alloys.

[simonbrads]

If you are looking for a more authentic 1950s feel and tone, these are for you. Especially good with p90s.

[HighSpeedSpoon]

I can confirm that RotoSound RS200 Top Tape strings are, indeed, made the same way as every other generic flat wound out there. That said, they're jolly affordable here. I haven't tried them since the change from Monel to stainless steel, because the existing old set still sounds great.

I contacted the company directly to get the facts. Jason How, the chairman of RotoSound, responded to my query via his GM, John R Doughty, thus:

"Our RS200 now employ ferritic stainless ribbon. They were made of Monel 400 for many years but due to so many players having nickel allergies we have since changed to Chrome/Iron stainless, with no nickel.

Your confusing is the result of timing on our part between website updates and the age of the packaging. Cardboard boxes go back 5 years when we went over to foil packs. Our apologies for the confusion."

It seems that their sympathy for players with nickel allergies doesn't extend to the entire rest of their range, except for the "British Steels". I suspect the decision was greatly influenced by Monel costing as much as ten-times the price of similar nickel alloys.

Since it is almost 22 months since SirGawain's post, I thought this update might be in order. The information below is copied and pasted from RotoSound's TopTape web page. Unfortunately, attempting to access the page directly generates a "Wordpress error" in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox, but you can get there by hitting "reload page" after receiving the error. Note that no mention is made of stainless, and "Monel" is used three times - twice in the text and once on the packaging. Wikipedia defines "Monel" as an alloy made of "nickel (from 52 to 67%) and copper, with small amounts of iron, manganese, carbon, and silicon". The Mirriam-Webster dictionary's entry for "Monel Metal trademark" defines monel as 67% nickel, 28% copper, and 5% other elements. These definitions are in line with my understanding of "monel".

Had I seen this thread, I might not have bought the RotoSounds a few days ago. I am looking at alternatives because the TI Bensons - which I like for one particular guitar - hit $42.95 USD when I looked a few days ago. As it stands, the RotoSounds cost about $9.00 USD a set, so although I'm a little vexed, I am inclined to ignore the inconsistencies between SirGawain's post and RotoSound's product page, and just see how the RotoSounds play. I've got some other monels in the pipeline too, and I only need one winner.

TOP TAPE


Monel Flatwound

Still the favourite for players of jazz, fusion, slide and studio work alike.
The smooth feel from monel tape offers noiseless fingering yet still allows for an element of upper harmonics to cut through without the twang of a roundwound.

[Hammertone]

Yeah....they are idjits....
A friend and I hoovered out all the Top Tapes from the Canadian distributor a few years back, when the strings still had Monel wire on them. I can't speak for the new "we're lazy, we're liars" version, but the old version sounds and feels a bit different from other flats.
Certainly worth trying for $9.00 set IMO.

[Daddy Dom]

I love these and I'm not a predominantly jazz player (yet). I've used them on a few guitars a number of years now.

According to Rotosound's current webpage there's a lot of talk about monel, so perhaps they've changed the recipe again.
DD

Top Tape Flatwound Electric Guitar | 12-52 • Rotosound Music Strings

[GuyBoden]

The Rotosound Top Tapes sound good to my ears in this video. Currently, I'm using TI Jazz Swings, but I'll consider Top Tape flats next time.

[Hammertone]

... and they still call them Monel Flatwounds. Perfectly good strings, but, geez, what a bunch of twats.

[skiboyny]

I used them quite a while ago thought I found the holy grail. Not much of a compromise and much lower cost. I usually order multiple sets when I ran out ordered them again and something definitely changed. Couldn't really stand them thought I developed a brain tumor. I guess it was at that point they changed the recipe.

[jazzshrink]

...Certainly worth trying for $9.00 set IMO.

Sadly, those $9 sets are now $18.

[GuyBoden]

... and they still call them Monel Flatwounds. Perfectly good strings, but, geez, what a bunch of twats.

As far as Rotosound Monel flatwound "Top Tape" strings go, I have a few sets in the string humidor and a couple of guitars strung up with them, and have never had a problem with them.

[ed: At some point after I acquired a box of Rotosound Top Tape strings, Rotosound changed the wrap composition from Monel to ss. Several people, myself included, corresponded with Rotosound about this, they confirmed that the wrap on the Top Tape guitar strings is ss. So, Rotosound Top Tapes are NOT Monel-wrapped. They are steel wrapped. As of 12/23, they have not changed the packaging graphics or the description on their website. Pretty lame stuff.]

I read your old post. Thanks for the info.

[kevmoga]

I read your old post. Thanks for the info.

I’m curious about this “ string humidor” that Hammertone mentions? H, can you share a brief description or elaboration?

[Hammertone]

I’m curious about this “ string humidor” that Hammertone mentions? H, can you share a brief description or elaboration?

I have fairly large, old, wooden cigar humidor that belonged to a long-dead relative. It has several compartments that happen to be the perfect size for string packages. I keep a bunch of my flatwound string sets stored in it. This amuses me greatly.

[sgosnell]

I use Tupperware. I stole one of my wife's containers which seals fairly well, and keep extra strings in it along with many packets of silica gel, to keep them dry. I get the gel in all sorts of things, from pills to electronics to whatever, and instead of throwing them all away I put them in the string container. I now probably have more silica gel than strings in there, but the gel keeps on coming, and it's free. I think it's worth doing down here where the humidity is always very high. 50% is a very low humidity level here. After Beryl, there are still over a million customers without electricity, and while the 90+ degree F temps are high, at least it's a wet heat.

[Daddy Dom]

I am beyond thrilled we are discussing string humidors.

#lifegoals

[sgosnell]

It's actually dehumidors. Humidity is the enemy of carbon steel. The enemy of cigars, OTOH, is lack of humidity.

I've seen worse thread topics here. Not that this is the best.

[RJVB]

and while the 90+ degree F temps are high, at least it's a wet heat.

That's worse IMHO! For us at least, but it also means that simple, non-electric granny methods to cool off an interior don't work (hanging laundry to dry, mopping the floors, anything that acts as perspiration for said interior).

Also, careful with those silica gel pouches if it's that humid, that they don't turn your plastic boxes into string baths! (Long-term user of silica-based dehumidifiers here.)

Funny thing is that I too recuperated my parents' old humidor-like case that once upon a time served to offer smokes to visitors. Its compartments are too small for most string pouches but it does have a collection of guitar-related trinkets in it.
For my strings I have an old galvanised steel box decorated and offered by a long-ago sweetheart. It's been good enough to keep gut strings fresh, it's still good enough for my current collection.

[wildschwein]

I strung up with these a few weeks ago. They seem brighter with more overtones than I remember. They used to be very heavy on the fundamental even when first installed. It's not like my high end hearing has improved with age either. They're still claiming the strings contain Monel:

"The build spec remains a close kept secret but the Monel 400 tape used in our Top Tape and Jazz Bass 77 strings brings out their true character over the much less costly flattened stainless steel."

Top Tape Flatwound Electric Guitar | 12-52 • Rotosound Music Strings

[RJVB]

Is it possible that "top tape" is a mysterious way of saying ground-wound, i.e. the top side looks like a tape?

Monel - Wikipedia

A priori monel is softer than stainless steel which should mean that using it as wrap wire allows more harmonic content.

[KirkP]

I strung up with these a few weeks ago. They seem brighter with more overtones than I remember. They used to be very heavy on the fundamental even when first installed. It's not like my high end hearing has improved with age either. They're still claiming the strings contain Monel:

"The build spec remains a close kept secret but the Monel 400 tape used in our Top Tape and Jazz Bass 77 strings brings out their true character over the much less costly flattened stainless steel."

Top Tape Flatwound Electric Guitar | 12-52 • Rotosound Music Strings

But this post from 2018 contradicts their web site:

I can confirm that RotoSound RS200 Top Tape strings are, indeed, made the same way as every other generic flat wound out there. That said, they're jolly affordable here. I haven't tried them since the change from Monel to stainless steel, because the existing old set still sounds great.

I contacted the company directly to get the facts. Jason How, the chairman of RotoSound, responded to my query via his GM, John R Doughty, thus:

"Our RS200 now employ ferritic stainless ribbon. They were made of Monel 400 for many years but due to so many players having nickel allergies we have since changed to Chrome/Iron stainless, with no nickel.

Your confusing is the result of timing on our part between website updates and the age of the packaging. Cardboard boxes go back 5 years when we went over to foil packs. Our apologies for the confusion."

It seems that their sympathy for players with nickel allergies doesn't extend to the entire rest of their range, except for the "British Steels". I suspect the decision was greatly influenced by Monel costing as much as ten-times the price of similar nickel alloys.

Despite the uncertainty of whether they are actually monel, I do like Top Tapes. But I only use them on one guitar, with roundwound strings on the rest.

[garybaldy]

I contacted the company directly to get the facts. Jason How, the chairman of RotoSound, responded to my query via his GM, John R Doughty, thus:

"Our RS200 now employ ferritic stainless ribbon. They were made of Monel 400 for many years but due to so many players having nickel allergies we have since changed to Chrome/Iron stainless, with no nickel.

I would be interested to know what percentage of guitarists have a nickel allergy.

[sgosnell]

I would be interested to know what percentage of guitarists have a nickel allergy.

There is at least one member here who has a nickel allergy. It is affected by not only the strings, but also by the frets.