Defective Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flatwounds

[StayLow]

Here's a stray question in regard to this. I think somebody mentioned it a week or so ago, and a friend of mine just happened to bring it up and jog my memory. What are the odds that it's the pull of the pickup on the G-string? Had it just been a single string, I wouldn't even think that, but three strings? The bass is a G&L Kiloton with one of G&L's proprietary MFD pickups. It's a single humbucker that is quite powerful, but the pickup is adjusted to G&L specs--in fact, it might even be slightly backed down from their specs. My friend's reasoning was that, with such a powerful pickup and with the G-string being the thinnest string on the bass and with cobalt being a very magnetic material, could it be? If so, why isn't it affecting any of the other strings? And why hasn't this occurred on any of the other G&L MFD-equipped basses I have? (And BTW, this is the first time I've ever tried EB Slinky Cobalt flats on any of my MFD-equipped basses. I have strictly used them on Alnico-equipped basses.)

Maybe? There’s a lot more magnetic material, and less tension so it’s easier to affect, on the E string.

When pickups affect the string, you can hear a chorusing effect.

 

[jglunt]

Maybe? There’s a lot more magnetic material, and less tension so it’s easier to affect, on the E string.

When pickups affect the string, you can hear a chorusing effect.

Kinda heard that sound on the first one, but I loosened it and made sure there was no twist in it and didn't hear that when I re-tightened it. Who knows? This whole thing has been quirky. It's certainly something I'll check out once the new strings from Ernie Ball get here. However, the E string is fine.

 

[StayLow]

Kinda heard that sound on the first one, but I loosened it and made sure there was no twist in it and didn't hear that when I re-tightened it. Who knows? This whole thing has been quirky. It's certainly something I'll check out once the new strings from Ernie Ball get here. However, the E string is fine.

Certainly if it happens again check try adjusting the pickup.

I have a couple basses with super hot pickups like yours, and when I did get that chorusing (with various strings, not Cobalt Flats) it’s been on the A string but usually the E.

We could be starting with different setups though. I’ve never cared at all what factory specs are. They have no idea what gauges anyone uses, what strings or tunings, how hard someone plays, what action they prefer, or what sound and output levels they’re after, so factory setup specs are totally ridiculous.

 

[jglunt]

Certainly if it happens again check try adjusting the pickup.

I have a couple basses with super hot pickups like yours, and when I did get that chorusing (with various strings, not Cobalt Flats) it’s been on the A string but usually the E.

We could be starting with different setups though. I’ve never cared at all what factory specs are. They have no idea what gauges anyone uses, what strings or tunings, how hard someone plays, what action they prefer, or what sound and output levels they’re after, so factory setup specs are totally ridiculous.

I agree about the manufacturer's specs, but I like to use them as a starting point. After that, I don't pay them much attention. I actually have three other G&L basses with MFD pickups on them, including the USA version of this Indonesian one. None of them have ever had any string-related issues. I've used either some nickel roundwounds or GHS Pressurewounds on them, but never any cobalt-wound strings. What you said about that G-string having more tension and less bulk makes sense, and the other three strings are fine.

 

[FunkHead]

@jglunt > The Bad string arrived today. I will install it tomorrow AM & test/report.

I will definitely be following this guide when I install the G string:

 

[jglunt]

@jglunt > The Bad string arrived today. I will install it tomorrow AM & test/report.

I will definitely be following this guide when I install the G string:

Sounds good. Thanks!

 

[jglunt]

I salute Ernie Ball's customer service. The replacement .045 Cobalt flat G-strings arrived out here in the desert already. They certainly got right on it. Now to try one on my cantankerous bass.

 

[jglunt]

I salute Ernie Ball's customer service. The replacement .045 Cobalt flat G-strings arrived out here in the desert already. They certainly got right on it. Now to try one on my cantankerous bass.

The new EB Slinky Cobalt flat .045 G-string works fine on my cantankerous G&L Tribute Kiloton. The only thing I changed, at the suggestion of a friend, was to lower the pickup. In fact, I lowered it as far as I could. I don't know at this point whether the previous two strings I tried on it were both bad or whether the pickup was messing with them. E-A-D strings were and continue to be OK. @FunkHead has one of the ones that was an issue. He's testing it. I guess if it tests to be good, it means the pickup was influencing the string. There was about 1/8" space between the pickup and the string when the string was depressed at the 21st fret. That's usually my starting point, then adjust for tone and loudness. In 50+ years of playing bass, I've never had an issue like this one. Live and learn. Thanks to @LoveThatBass for being one of the folks who encouraged me to lower the pickup and to @FunkHead for checking one of the ones I had trouble with.

 

[FunkHead]

Okay, I tested the String. I was able to get it intonated with no problems. I did have to move the saddle back pretty far. In fact, the Silk was riding on the saddle.
The following Pics start with the Bass used, Then working my way down from High G(12th fret), F, D, C, A#, G#.

 

[jglunt]

It all looks good. I couldn't back that string off far enough to intonate it to a G on fret 12, & it's just weird to have to do that anyway with a G-string. I believe the G&L Saddlelock bridge doesn't have as much travel for intonation as do most other bridges. The other string I had on it intonated fine but was way sharp on the 1st fret, less sharp going up the neck, on pitch at 12, then flat above 12. Unfortunately, I threw it away. I appreciate your help.

 

[FunkHead]

It all looks good. I couldn't back that string off far enough to intonate it to a G on fret 12, & it's just weird to have to do that anyway with a G-string. I believe the G&L Saddlelock bridge doesn't have as much travel for intonation as do most other bridges. The other string I had on it intonated fine but was way sharp on the 1st fret, less sharp going up the neck, on pitch at 12, then flat above 12. Unfortunately, I threw it away. I appreciate your help.

I should have grabbed a pic of how far back the saddle was. There was room for more adjustment but not much. I have a brand new set ready to go on my Retro 70s stingray. I hope it goes okay. I’m still enjoying the factory rounds on it but I will let you know when I change to the Cobalt flats…

 

[jglunt]

Thanks. Ernie Ball sent me two free strings, one of which I put on the cantankerous Kiloton. It's fine, but I did back the pickup down all the way before installing it. Later, I raised it back up & all was good. I had to move the saddle back unusually far, but it did intonate, and the pitch going through all the frets was on, which is what matters. If you experience any problems when you string up the Stingray, try lowering the pickup & see if it makes a difference. I've had these Cobalt flats on three different basses & had zero problems with them until now.

 

[Nebadon2000]

On my Stingray Special [any MM Bass] factory set up is with G string 6/32 from top of pickup to bottom of string

To compare Fender recommends 3/32[6/64] or [5/64] as do many others

I bought a EBMM 25TH Anniversary [aka Reflex] used; had chorus[y] sound along with Bad intonation; pickup was set per Fender setup specs which most manufactures use

Brought pickup down to 6/32 no problems E ended up at 7/62 for perceived volume balance

I tried slowly bringing pickup closer to strings but sounded best at 6/32 &7/32 as recommended

 

[jglunt]

On my Stingray Special [any MM Bass] factory set up is with G string 6/32 from top of pickup to bottom of string

To compare Fender recommends 3/32[6/64] or [5/64] as do many others

I bought a EBMM 25TH Anniversary [aka Reflex] used; had chorus[y] sound along with Bad intonation; pickup was set per Fender setup specs which most manufactures use

Brought pickup down to 6/32 no problems E ended up at 7/62 for perceived volume balance

I tried slowly bringing pickup closer to strings but sounded best at 6/32 &7/32 as recommended

If I remember correctly (seldom), G&L's specs are 3/32" at the G string and 1/8" at E (or B) string. I usually start there and lower as needed. It seems like each bass needs a little different lovin' when to comes to that.

 

[sunbeast]

If I remember correctly (seldom), G&L's specs are 3/32" at the G string and 1/8" at E (or B) string. I usually start there and lower as needed. It seems like each bass needs a little different lovin' when to comes to that.

I used to play an L2000 as my main bass for several years and found those big MFD humbuckers to be about as bad as I've ever experienced when it came to magnetic pull issues with strings. Of course with only a single pickup on your Kiloton you should have less issues, but definitely a possibility that was a part of the problem- and of course different strings with different metals will react differently. I also found I prefered to back off the height on those pickups too for a clearer tone FWIW.

 

[-Stingray]

I snapped a D string on a brand new set of cobalt flats 2 nights ago (bringing it up to pitch). Sent Ernie Ball an email and they got back to me the next morning. Asked me a few questions, and they have a new one on the way to me.

I have been using Chromes all these years and wanted to try the cobalt flats.....but honestly this has not given me warm fuzzies.

Kudo's to EB though for the first rate customer service though...

 

[jglunt]

For all I know, I got the only two EB Slinky Cobalt flats G-strings that will be manufactured by them for the next ten years. Until I'm proven wrong in that assumption, that's what I'll choose to believe. However, I'm a baseball fan, and those two bad strings represent two strikes. Three strikes and you're out.

 

[Nebadon2000]

If I remember correctly (seldom), G&L's specs are 3/32" at the G string and 1/8" at E (or B) string. I usually start there and lower as needed. It seems like each bass needs a little different lovin' when to comes to that.

I watched a Video where a Setup Tech was doing a Stingray and when he saw EBMM spec being 6/32 he mocked it and used standard 3/32 G 4/32 E then came back [after edit] and said EBMM was right

 

[dmk]

Just installed some new Cobalt flatwounds, set #2814. It appears Ernie Ball is still having quality control problems, as the G string won't intonate. We'll see what Customer Service says.

 

[jglunt]

Just installed some new Cobalt flatwounds, set #2814. It appears Ernie Ball is still having quality control problems, as the G string won't intonate. We'll see what Customer Service says.

Try lowering your pickup. Ernie Ball had no problem replacing the G strings that were giving me problems, but a friend recommended I lower the pickup on my bass, so I did that. The new string is fine, bit I don't actually know if it was a string problem or a pickups-too-high problem.