Earnie ball cobalt 45-100

[descendent22]

These are the strings after a long endless search I primarily use. It was rotosound nickels 45-105 and I loved the tone from the rotos but they didn't have the flexibility. I tried them all: GHS boomers,various earnie ball, daddorio,fender, Dunlop, dr,dr black beauties etc.. I wanted to find the string that fulfilled my desires the most. I always preferred nickel strings and when I looked at these cobalts I was wondering why they were called cobalt.. Turns out, it's the material the strings are made of. Can anyone tell me exactly what cobalt is? But anyway the tone that I got with both my finger and pick playing along with the smooth comfortable feel of the strings and the flexibility made it a no brainier. The search still isn't over but I'm content with these and don't plan on changing that.

 

[Gorn]

Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. Like nickel, cobalt in the Earth's crust is found only in chemically combined form, save for small deposits found in alloys of natural meteoric iron. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal.

 

[descendent22]

Cobalt is a chemical element with symbol Co and atomic number 27. Like nickel, cobalt in the Earth's crust is found only in chemically combined form, save for small deposits found in alloys of natural meteoric iron. The free element, produced by reductive smelting, is a hard, lustrous, silver-gray metal.

So is it a fact that the pickups magnetize to cobalt stronger then nickel and stainless as advertised?

 

[Gorn]

So is it a fact that the pickups magnetize to cobalt stronger then nickel and stainless as advertised?

I don't know if "pickups magnetizing" is the correct phrasing, but in my experience, cobalt flats and rounds are picked up very strongly by magnetic pickups. They're really loud and growly. More so than steel or nickel strings.

 

[descendent22]

That answers my question,thank you!

 

[Mikhail1]

You go Gorn, dropping some science! But why does it seems that these strings are not that popular, particularly on this board?

 

[Gorn]

You go Gorn, dropping some science! But why does it seems that these strings are not that popular, particularly on this board?

They've only been out for a few months but they're not really unpopular.
New EB Cobalt Flats? | TalkBass.com
Great strings. Everyone should try them.

and what I said was lifted directly from wikipedia. I'm not that smart.

 

[Mikhail1]

Yeah I see people talking about the flats but I was referring to the round wounds. Seems like they never really caught on like the flats seem to be doing.

 

[Gorn]

Yeah I see people talking about the flats but I was referring to the round wounds. Seems like they never really caught on like the flats seem to be doing.

I didn't realize at first this thread isn't specifically about the flats. I've been loving them so much I forgot about the originals. I don't even really like flats but the cobalt versions are spectacular.

The rounds are alleged fret-eaters. I've never kept them on a bass long enough to find out, but even the reputation, warranted or not, is a deal breaker for a lot of people. They're great though. Very growly.

 

[descendent22]

I've never given flat wounds a shot.. I've played them on some bass's but I only use and am fond of round wounds

 

[Joshua Pickenpaugh]

They've only been out for a few months but they're not really unpopular.
New EB Cobalt Flats? | TalkBass.com
Great strings. Everyone should try them.

+1. I've been a longtime nickel and steel round wound user, but these Cobalt Flats are so enjoyable to play I may stick with them. It's an interesting thing to play a note(s) and not hear string noise.

 

[JustForSport]

Cobalt along with nickel and iron (and Samarium) are the only magnetic metals. Steel is an alloy- mostly iron mixed with other materials for strength, corrosion resistance, etc. Iron, Samarium, and (I think Cobalt) can be magnetized (permanently), but all are 'magnetized' when activated in a magnetic field. Nickel doesn't retain its magnetism when removed from the field. Cobalt is more magnetic than nickel, but it must be alloyed to have flexibility (Cobalt is used in drill bits to cut through steels and stainless steels better that most HS bits). I don't know if the cobalt alloy used in strings is significantly harder/faster wearing on frets (which are typically softer) than S/S.
Since Cobalt is more magnetic than most s/s, nickel, or steel alloy strings, they can be more
responsive.
Cobalt, because of its strong magnetic properties has been used for pickup magnets and is regarded as one of the most dynamic magnets for pickups. It is much more expensive than ceramic/iron, tho, so less common.
Anyway- gotta try some Cobalt Flats to see what it's all about.

 

[michael_t]

Cobalt, because of its strong magnetic properties has been used for pickup magnets and is regarded as one of the most dynamic magnets for pickups. It is much more expensive than ceramic/iron, tho, so less common.

Alnico = Aluminum + Nickel + Cobalt

 

[JustForSport]

Alnico = Aluminum + Nickel + Cobalt

Right. The Cobalt retains magnetic properties, Nickel has magnetic properties while in a magnetic field, and Nickel along with Aluminum provide corrosion resistance along with making that alloy less brittle.

 

[Chris.Spurrier]

Long time reader, first time poster..

I've had these on a p-bass for about a month. I play through an Ampeg SVT II, and an Amped 6x10.

First thing I noticed is that they are truly louder than any other strong I've ever played. I hear (read) a lot about how different they feel, I didn't find that. I did notice that without adjusting my eq settings the highs are way overwhelming.

I had to roll my tone knob down about half way to compensate.

I think they would be great for modern style bass playing.. Super low action very articlate, etc.. But for gritty Rock N Roll, I think I'll be going back to regular old slinkys next time

 

[descendent22]

Long time reader, first time poster..

I've had these on a p-bass for about a month. I play through an Ampeg SVT II, and an Amped 6x10.

First thing I noticed is that they are truly louder than any other strong I've ever played. I hear (read) a lot about how different they feel, I didn't find that. I did notice that without adjusting my eq settings the highs are way overwhelming.

I had to roll my tone knob down about half way to compensate.

I think they would be great for modern style bass playing.. Super low action very articlate, etc.. But for gritty Rock N Roll, I think I'll be going back to regular old slinkys next time

Yeah I stumbled upon these strings and haven't looked back. I run the same amp as you. They are good strings.

 

[Starflyer59]

Out if curiosity i slap a set of cobalts round onto my ibanez sr 645 bass and wow! The output is louder on an active bass and i love the growl these strings provides.

I used the bass for church last weekend and besides cutting the hi mids a hair, the dynamic response of these strings are very bright and articulated for finger style, slap and double tapping. I really like them.

I find them just a hair stiff but once i break them in they will do well.

Highly recommended.

 

[descendent22]

Out if curiosity i slap a set of cobalts round onto my ibanez sr 645 bass and wow! The output is louder on an active bass and i love the growl these strings provides.

I used the bass for church last weekend and besides cutting the hi mids a hair, the dynamic response of these strings are very bright and articulated for finger style, slap and double tapping. I really like them.

I find them just a hair stiff but once i break them in they will do well.

Highly recommended.

These strings were far from stiff. The reason why I switched from rotosound to the cobalt rounds were because of the flexibility. The response and loudness in sound your totally accurate on, and the brightness was perfect for my maple fret board p bass with Seymour Duncan spb2 and brass saddles on the bridge. Didn't seem to bright at all, but then again an Ibanez ain't no fender

 

[Starflyer59]

These strings were far from stiff. The reason why I switched from rotosound to the cobalt rounds were because of the flexibility. The response and loudness in sound your totally accurate on, and the brightness was perfect for my maple fret board p bass with Seymour Duncan spb2 and brass saddles on the bridge. Didn't seem to bright at all, but then again an Ibanez ain't no fender

Coming from using roto's every other string will not feel stiff. I haven't used any slinky's in years , I just find it a hair stiff at the beginning but now that its settled it feels better and string bending is a breeze. This particular Ibby is more trebly than bassy hence the brighter sound. Im curious how it would sound on a P bass or a Jbass so I went back to that store and bought the last pack in stock. I'm thinking of stringing them on my lakland DJ5 next.

 

[descendent22]

I mean I loved the tone of the rotosound nickels on my p bass.. Gave it such a nice growl at the end of the note. But I went through a period of time where I was searching for the right string for me, and I went through them all. Every brand different gauges but all round wounds. I just don't care for flats personally. But I came across the eb cobalts, and it had 45-100 gauge which I like my E string at 100. I had close competition with the daddorio pro steels but they were to twangy/bright for my p bass. The cobalts weren't nickel or stainless, they had the right gauge and were flexible, have a real good tone so I ended up going back with these. I did put their steels on my jazz bass which has a rosewood fretboard and they actually sound real nice, but the cobalts are so much louder.