Win a Year's Worth of Rotosound 's New Guitar Strings

Rotosound

Hi everyone!

We've just launched our refreshed guitar string packaging and wanted to offer all members of The Fretboard a chance to win a year's worth of these strings.

To enter, take a look at the designs and press release, then leave a comment with your thoughts. We'll pick a winner at random at the end of August, who will receive 12 sets of the new string packaging (one set per month).

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Rotosound Unveils Bold New Packaging for Guitar String Lines

Iconic British string manufacturer Rotosound is proud to reveal a fresh redesign of its electric and acoustic guitar string packaging. The new look delivers a clean, modern feel while paying tribute to the brand’s rich legacy of serving music’s rebels, rule-breakers, and pioneers. Rolling out this month with the Rotos product line, the updated packaging will appear across other lines in the coming months.



At the heart of the redesign is a celebration of Rotosound’s storied heritage. Created in-house using the company’s own archives of catalogues, advertisements, and vintage string packs, the artwork draws directly from designs dating back to the 1960s. For example, the Jumbo King, Tru Bronze, and Super Bronze sets repurpose graphics directly from one of the company’s earliest string packs. The aesthetic also draws inspiration from the visual language of early British rock and punk — including album art from Decca Records and the use of bold typography — connecting the new look to a lineage that includes The Who, Pink Floyd, The Clash, and The Damned.

Function Meets Familiarity with a Splash of Colour

One of the key goals behind the packaging refresh was to improve product differentiation. Previously, many Rotosound string sets shared a similar visual identity, making it hard to distinguish between different lines — for instance, a regular gauge nickel set like Roto Yellows and an acoustic Tru Bronze set. The new designs give each line a unique visual identity, making it easy for players to find exactly what they need at a glance.

Despite the fresh appearance, brand familiarity has been carefully preserved. Longtime Rotosound users will recognise the brand logo, gauge information, and key descriptors in their familiar positions. The British flag still adorns each pack — now in a clearer, refined form — representing the company’s proud tradition of UK manufacturing since 1958. Still using airtight foil pouches — containing the strings, a silica gel sachet, and nothing else — Rotosound’s packaging remains one of the industry’s most eco-friendly, with 90% less packaging material than other packing methods.

To further streamline the experience, gauge-specific colour coding now links sets across different lines. For example, all 10–46 gauge sets, regardless of series, share a yellow theme; 9–42 sets are pink.

Notably, packaging for the acoustic sets now match the colour of the string material itself, allowing players to connect what’s on the outside with what they’ll find inside.

Designed with Players in Mind

Rotosound consulted players and retailers to better understand what information was most valuable on the shelf. The result is a dedicated product information box, placed uniformly across the new packs, which makes it easier to compare materials, instruments, and tonal profiles. Short, descriptive summaries have been added to help players understand each line’s sonic characteristics, whether they’re chasing warmth, brightness, or vintage feel.

New endorsees have also been added to Rotosound’s impressive artist roster of legendary and contemporary acts — from Jimi Hendrix to Blur, AC/DC to Idles. Last but not least, a QR code on the back of each pack links to extended product details, recycling advice, and GPSR compliance information, giving players more insight — and more options — than ever before.

Rolling Out from the Factory to the World

The new packaging is shipping now, beginning with the Rotos line. Other sets — including British Steels, Jumbo King, Tru Bronze, and more — will update gradually as retailers replenish their stock. Players around the globe can expect to see both old and new designs side-by-side on the shelves of Rotosound’s dealers across the world during this transition period.

fretmeister

Nice.

What bass strings are included in the prize?

ta.

Leisceoir

Really like the different colour packaging. How many packets is a year’s worth exactly?

fretmeister

Leisceoir said:

Really like the different colour packaging. How many packets is a year’s worth exactly?

It says 12.

No mention of bass strings which is very odd as it was bass strings that made them famous in the first place.

flying_pie

fretmeister said:

Leisceoir said:

Really like the different colour packaging. How many packets is a year’s worth exactly?

It says 12.

No mention of bass strings which is very odd as it was bass strings that made them famous in the first place.

No mention of bass strings because one pack is a lifetime supply

I do like the new appearance and packaging though

bobacco

Leisceoir said:

Really like the different colour packaging. How many packets is a year’s worth exactly?

Says 12 sets.

bobacco

@Rotosound - Really like the new designs! Good balance of contemporary and classic across the range. Good job!

Leisceoir

bobacco said:

Leisceoir said:

Really like the different colour packaging. How many packets is a year’s worth exactly?

Says 12 sets.

Ah right. I read it properly this time! 

digitalscream

flying_pie said:

fretmeister said:

Leisceoir said:

Really like the different colour packaging. How many packets is a year’s worth exactly?

It says 12.

No mention of bass strings which is very odd as it was bass strings that made them famous in the first place.

No mention of bass strings because one pack is a lifetime supply

Exactly. I always assumed that @fretmeister is only here because he's been shunned by the bass community on account of being weird and wanting to change his strings.

Jonathangus

I like it!  The only thing I would say, though, is that the greens could be more - er - green.  They look a bit close to the yellows in that pic.

Anyway, 9-46, if you please.  

fretmeister

digitalscream said:

flying_pie said:

fretmeister said:

Leisceoir said:

Really like the different colour packaging. How many packets is a year’s worth exactly?

It says 12.

No mention of bass strings which is very odd as it was bass strings that made them famous in the first place.

No mention of bass strings because one pack is a lifetime supply

Exactly. I always assumed that @fretmeister is only here because he's been shunned by the bass community on account of being weird and wanting to change his strings.

I've got some flatwounds that are over 5 years old!

Some I've even done the handcream thing to get them deader more quickly.

YorkGhost

I've just started using Rotosounds actually to buy British, prefer the new packaging, always thought the old reminded me of indie for some reason!

joeyowen

Surely a year's supply of bass strings is 1 set?

Offset

Good idea tying string gauges to colours.  Nice and simple for the old farts amongst us (like me) 

Roto Pinks please!

JMS96

Really nice. I should really support, being from Sevenoaks. Never noticed the free extra first string. Is that a thing? What if you break the second string?

ElectricXII

At last, easily understandable colour coding by string size!

wibble

Nice! Although the Roto Reds seems hard to read. More so if you're colour blind!

Voxman

I like that more info is given on each pack and that there's colour coordination now across the string types, so I use 9-42s which are now all pink.  I like Rotosound strings, and  the red white and blue ball ends which aside from being useful when restringing, is also a nice reminder that Rotosound are quinticentially a very British company. 

Speedy

If they're good enough for Jimi, I'm in!

Philtre

You're Chalkie White and I claim my £5!

(They look nice, I'll take the 10s)

ZenOvertone

Good stuff, liking the new packaging and the spare E is always useful to have, a USP for Rotosound still.