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Cobalt Flats Question

Saetia

Saetia

Supporting Member
Mar 27, 2003
3,216
3,614
Wisconsin
#1
Hello there everybody.

Been some time since I've posted over in this side of the forums (not a busy on TB in general as in years past).

I've been doing a lot of reading on the EB Cobalt flats and finally took the plunge after a FB group trade for a Dean Rhapsody fretless hollowbody (have had my eye on one of these since back in the day). It's a fun bass, easy to play, and I find a much fuller tone than any of the videos I've seen (maybe my fingers are the difference there???). The trader put rounds on it right after the bought it, turns out they bought the bass twice because they liked it so much (bought, traded, bought again and then traded to me)... this last time they installed rounds and it can show on the FB. You can't really feel it but you can definitely see the marring though.

My first instinct was to run to the music shop and check out flats, well there were only two different kinds in stock, Chromes and Cobalt flats (not even the different group EB flats). Since I've wanted to try the CF's on my Bongo, figure why not grab a set for the Dean... I really don't want the FB getting messed up anymore to the point you can feel it, so why not take preventative measures now and try out something I've been meaning to get my toes wet with anyway.

I've read a lot of reviews as I've said, the long ass threads and everything and have tried to wade through them all. It's harder these days than before to directly target in a search what you want without getting too much or lost somewhere in the pages of mega-threads or club pages. I know of the string breakage, or the way they ask you to wind them vs the normal mode of installing strings.

So after all my long windedness here is my real question:

How do you install your Cobalt flats? Do you go against the directions and cut them as normal? or Do you follow the directions and wind all that string around the posts? What happened in either instance? Where did your strings break if they did break? Is the breakage a thing of last year at release or does it still happen?

I want to get these installed right away but I've been hesitant after all I have read, and seem quite confused. I definitely don't want to gamble, and I would like to be further informed.

If possible, could you take pictures of the tuning pegs of your CB flat equipped basses? This would help me out, I'd like to hear from people who have installed both ways, mainly interested in pictures of tuning pegs with the CB flats installed by EB recommendations.

Thanks a ton,

I'm just getting back into the swing of TB and will be trying to add content and participate much more.

-Benny
 
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#2
I've got a set on the way. I've never read directions when putting on a set of strings, but I am interested in the responses this thread will generate.

I wish EB or someone, made a more balanced tension set of Cobalt Flats.
I'm not sure why all their sets of strings have such loose tension on the E string, when that is the one that should have more tension for cases of dropping to Drop D.
 
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#3
Killed_by_Death said:
I've got a set on the way. I've never read directions when putting on a set of strings, but I am interested in the responses this thread will generate.

I wish EB or someone, made a more balanced tension set of Cobalt Flats.
I'm not sure why all their sets of strings have such loose tension on the E string, when that is the one that should have more tension for cases of dropping to Drop D.
Click to expand...

I went with the 45-100 set for the Dean. Have yet to install them to see what the tension will be like in standard tuning. I want to go with a bit lower tension on this bass, I was honestly hoping they had the 40-95 set but no dice. We'll see how these go, if I like them the Bongo may be getting a set of a larger gauge, perhaps the 45-105 or 50-105 (not sure I could do the 55-105's.

I'm really interested to see what the tuning pegs look like when strung the way they instruct which is to insert, bend, wrap, come back through the peg slot and then wind the entire string... this has me sketched as I've never wrapped a whole string for the sake of tuning stability. They have a lot of winding.

I'm excited to try these though.

-Benny
 
#4
Saetia said:
So after all my long windedness here is my real question:

How do you install your Cobalt flats? Do you go against the directions and cut them as normal? or Do you follow the directions and wind all that string around the posts? What happened in either instance? Where did your strings break if they did break? Is the breakage a thing of last year at release or does it still happen?

I want to get these installed right away but I've been hesitant after all I have read, and seem quite confused. I definitely don't want to gamble, and I would like to be further informed.

If possible, could you take pictures of the tuning pegs of your CB flat equipped basses? This would help me out, I'd like to hear from people who have installed both ways, mainly interested in pictures of tuning pegs with the CB flats installed by EB recommendations.
Click to expand...

EBCF_stringing.jpg


I did cut the ends and immediately put a crimp near the new end. No worries at 1+ years in. This is the lightest set.
 
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#5
Passinwind said:
EBCF_stringing.jpg


I did cut the ends and immediately put a crimp near the new end. No worries at 1+ years in. This is the lightest set.
Click to expand...

First, thank you so much for the picture, I really appreciate it.

Did you crimp to keep the end for unraveling or just out of the sake of playing it safe? I've never crimped the end of a string after cutting, and I'll be honest... I've never installed a new set of flats either. About ten years ago, a kind fellow on here sent me a whole bunch of used flats... we're talking like $400 plus new in used flats... so I just slapped em on what ever bass they would fit over the years.

Sorry for my ignorance, I don't want to mess up a good string.

-Benny
 
#7
Saetia said:
First, thank you so much for the picture, I really appreciate it.

Did you crimp to keep the end for unraveling or just out of the sake of playing it safe? I've never crimped the end of a string after cutting, and I'll be honest... I've never installed a new set of flats either. About ten years ago, a kind fellow on here sent me a whole bunch of used flats... we're talking like $400 plus new in used flats... so I just slapped em on what ever bass they would fit over the years.

Sorry for my ignorance, I don't want to mess up a good string.
Click to expand...

You're welcome; since that bass lives right next to the computer it was no biggie. I don't blame you a bit for being cautious. I was pretty paranoid, and someone else had posted that crimping was a good idea.

In spite of all the perceived hassle, I like these strings considerably more than the T-I Jazz Flats that my bass was explicitly built to use. Hope it works that way for you as well!
 
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#8
comatosedragon said:
I have had two sets (different basses); and installed both the 'recommended' way. Unfortunately for me, something in my body chemistry makes those cobalts rust FAST (like within a week), so I don't use them anymore.

I will say that I loved the tension, and I never had one break.
Click to expand...

Thank you,

What basses were they installed on? What was the head stock configuration? Scale length? Did the wraps overlap at all? The last being the most significant of my worries I believe.

-Benny
 
#9
Passinwind said:
You're welcome; since that bass lives right next to the computer it was no biggie. I don't blame you a bit for being cautious. I was pretty paranoid, and someone else had posted that crimping was a good idea.

In spite of all the perceived hassle, I like these strings considerably more than the T-I Jazz Flats that my bass was explicitly built to use. Hope it works that way for you as well!
Click to expand...


Definitely good happenstance that the bass lives next to the computer :) pretty good home haha.

Your sentiments are also very appreciated, much hope for these on the Dean. Between the fretless, soap bar in a relative P position and the semi hollow body should make for some good tones with the CB flats. Some more punch to the warmth.

-Benny
 
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#10
Saetia said:
Thank you,

What basses were they installed on? What was the head stock configuration? Scale length? Did the wraps overlap at all? The last being the most significant of my worries I believe.
Click to expand...

In my case, it's a custom bass with 34" scale length and strung through-body. There would have been a lot of overlap given the small format Gotoh tuners, so I just tried to make sure there would be as many single layer wraps as possible and called it good.
 
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#17
JustForSport said:
The included instrs are easy to follow and special instrs are for reasons.
ALWAYS CRIMP BEFORE CUT.
Strings wrapped to low or bottom of tuner post have better break angle.
Why risk a bad install by doing otherwise?
Click to expand...

But the instructions counterdict what you are saying.

The instructions are easy, just odd.

Take another gander.

No cutting or crimping in instruction, plus 2 more heavy kinks around the tuning post and also wrapping over the string on the post while winding toward the base. Seems so unnatural.

I just don't want to break one as it seems there is a reputation for these to break, at least the early production.

I would like to see a picbof the recommended way of installing becase these sills at the tuner end are LONG.
 
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