Cobalts = RUST

That's too bad. I had a G&L with Cobalt flats on it and it sounded great. I bought a couple sets for my other basses and had the G string break twice. Ernie Ball was great about replace it but I haven't been able to get my P bass strung eith them without them breaking. I really liked the tone, too.

 

I’m not trying to change your mind. For whatever reason, their strings have changed. But if you really love the strings, try using some brand of string cleaner after you play, instead of just ‘wiping them down’. Maybe you could go back to using them again.

 

Good info, man. Thanks.

The Cobalt Flats are expensive here on the other side of the globe from where they're being manufactured. The uncertainty of the build quality which could be read from quite a few posts like yours makes me reluctant to try.

Also since strings need to be imported here by distributors which took months before being sold by dealers, and not to mention that our climate is 80% humid all year long, I don't think we're going to get any replacement like you folks over there when they get rust.

 

I Have a replace of Cobalt....I consider these one of my expensive buy and I hope these are long lasting. If good tones but brutal decay are on the trash....

 

I got a Warwick Streamer in a trade a little while ago. My buddy set it up and put a new set of Cobalts on the bass. It has been on a stand in my music room (a climate controlled bedroom in my house) or in the flight case it came in that I use for storage in the same room. It has never even left the house except for that first setup.

We went out of town about a month ago, and I put all my basses in their cases and away in that closet. I just took the Warwick out and the strings are completely rusted like I left them outside in the rain. I have never had a string remotely do this, and this was in the case in a bedroom closet.

 

I just had the A string of a set of cobalt flats go dead after about 2 weeks of having it on my 4003, played one practice with the band and maybe 5 total hours at home. Something funky has happened with that cobalt material... i used to play the cobalt rounds, then switched to flats. I agree that QC must be an afterthought at this point.

 

This was definitely my first and last pair. I just emailed Ernie Ball. We'll see.

 

Good luck man!

 

I’m hoping this is just one bad batch of strings that have been discussed lately. Ernie Ball has a problem.

 

poopie, I just noticed the new tuners have completely rusted screws. They are only 2 months old and have never left the house. There is no dampness in the closet nor case and all the other basses are fine. I'm at a complete loss. Those screws were black when I put the bass in the case on June 18 (the day before we left for vacation).

 

Those poor tuners were locked in that case with those rust promoting strings. Even the Washers on the side got rusty. Or maybe theirs a high humidity in that closet but I guess other basses would show signs of rust too.

 

I live in New Orleans, so there is high humidity. That being said, all the other basses are just fine. I just talked to a tech friend, and all he can think is it had to be something with the strings. I checked the battery compartment, the electronics are working and there was nothing else in the case. I even checked the corners of the closet for any dampness, etc. Nothing.

 

With so many cases of these strings rusting, It's got to be something with the chemical compound or maybe they are not completely drying/cleaning the metal after manufacturing....
I have some Cobalt flats that are not rusting so far. I have had them on my bass for about 45 days. Ernie Ball will eventually solve the mystery for us.

 

Cobalt is an abundant and hard metal. It is brittle and very magnetic, comparatively(concerning other steels). Makes sense that it would gonutty in an atmosphere such as NOLA. Your screwheads and other hardwares are a source of your environment. I'm from Sulphur, LA. That weather'll ruin your stuff.

 

Acid rain? Acid dew?

 

Still, every other bass is fine. It has to be the strings triggered the other stuff. I'm taking it to Strange Guitarworks (awesome repair shop in New Orleans) tomorrow to take a look at it.