Rotosound British Steels Review (2011) [Updated 2024]
Testing Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings on Classic Guitars
To start this review, I strung up two very different types of guitars—one is a Fender Stratocaster (Mexican Deluxe, 1997), and the other is a Custom Silverburst Gibson Les Paul (2008).
These guitars were chosen for their distinct tonal qualities and difference in feel to play, which made them ideal for evaluating the performance of Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings.
I played through a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe ‘Texas Red’ Ltd edition all-valve amp, ensuring that every nuance of the strings was captured. The cable used was a Pete Cornish HD cable, known for its high-quality signal transmission.
The strings I had on these guitars before were Rotosound R10 (Yellows), a reliable set that I’ve used frequently in hundreds of live and recording situations.
Switching to the Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings, I was eager to hear how they would compare, especially given their reputation.
The Legacy of Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings
Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings hark back to the days when many guitar strings were made from stainless steel rather than nickel. These strings were the choice of legendary guitarists like Brian May and Jimi Hendrix, and they’ve been featured on some of the most iconic recordings in music history.
This connection to some of my favourite records adds a certain allure to the British Steels, promising a vintage tone that modern strings often struggle to replicate.
I couldn’t wait to hear how the Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings would sound on my guitars. The anticipation was high, knowing that these strings have a storied history and a reputation for delivering a powerful, distinct sound.
Fende Stratocaster Experience: Brightness and Clarity
On first inspection, the Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings immediately added great punch and ‘twang’ to my Stratocaster, even when unplugged. When plugged in on a clean sound, I noticed that the top-end harmonics, which previously struggled to come through, were now singing clearly. The beautiful ‘glassy, bell like’ tone that I love my Strat for was more pronounced.
The strings seemed to enhance the natural brightness of the Strat, making each note stand out with more clarity.
The sustain seemed to have increased slightly as well, likely due to the high iron content in these strings. This increased iron content enhances their magnetic properties, allowing your pickups to interact more strongly with the strings. This interaction keeps the strings vibrating longer, resulting in a noticeable increase in sustain.
A strummed chord sounded bright and ‘zingy,’ which I use to describe a lively, sharp tone that really cuts through. This characteristic made the Stratocaster’s inherent brightness even more pronounced, giving the guitar a new level of clarity and articulation.
Live Performance: Cutting Through the Mix
During a function gig, I put the Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings to the test. They cut through the mix perfectly, and I didn’t need to adjust my EQ or pickups. I was able to maintain my bluesy neck pickup sound while still being heard clearly, which is crucial in a live setting. The strings were very lively during rhythm playing, which meant I needed to use my volume knob effectively, reducing the need for pedal adjustments to tones.
For function gigs, where versatility is key, these strings performed particularly well on Blues and Country numbers. However, they were a bit too forward for rhythm parts in rock songs, requiring some adjustments to avoid an overly sharp tone when playing thick power chords. Great definition, but need to be contolled in the mix.
Les Paul Experience: Brightening Up Humbuckers
Switching to the Gibson Les Paul, I found that the Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings brightened up the naturally mid-heavy humbuckers, which I have to admit, I like.
When I switched to the rhythm position, I could back off and still maintain a presence in the mix, which is perfect for filling out the sound with definitiopn, without overwhelming it.
When it was time to take the lead, switching to the treble position allowed me to cut through the mix with ease. The added top-end clarity ensured that my solos stood out, making these strings an excellent choice for lead guitarists. It sounds like I’m exaggerating, but really, these strings change your clarity in the mix that much.
Summary: My New Favorite Strings
In summary, the Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings are bright, twangy, and grippy, adding a true vintage tone and impressive response to your playing. While they can be a bit harsh on a Stratocaster or Telecaster in some settings, they excel in genres like Country where a bright, cutting tone is desired.
These strings add a distinct ‘bite’ to your tone, and for humbuckers, they provide a new level of top-end clarity that helps your solos soar in the mix. Rotosound’s reputation for quality is evident in these strings, making them a solid and dependable choice for any guitarist.
The Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings are available in the following gauges:
BS09: 09 / 11 / 16 / 24w / 32w / 42w
BS10: 10 / 13 / 17 / 26w / 36w / 46w
BS11: 11 / 14 / 18 / 28w / 38w / 48w
These options ensure that there’s a set suitable for every playing style, whether you prefer a lighter touch or a more robust tone.
JW
2024 update
Literally 1000+ packets of Rotosound British Steel Guitar Strings later, these are still my go-to string and they have never let me down, on tour or in sessions. I love these strings.
They last a long time too - I have a guitar that I don’t use much and hadn’t re-strung since I moved to Australia 10 years before. The strings were still very playable. I restrung it today with some new ones and I played it for 2 hours as it sounded so good!
Happy playing,
JW
