They sound amazing, but the microscopic gap between the windings make them feel as if there is a sticky adhesive on the strings. Both rounds and LaBella flats slide much smoother than these. Did I get a bad set or is this how they all feel?
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EB Cobalt Flats - Love the sound, Hate the feel
- Thread starter MechaSparky
- Start date
I just posted on LaBella IMA thread and saw your post. I also am not a fan at all of the Cobalts, and that's after trying them a few times on different basses. My hope was that they'd be a cheaper version of TI Superalloys, but they're really not anything like them. And I agree 100% on the sticky/ slow feel they have. It's even worse if you have the awful scenario of playing a hot outdoor show like I did a month or so ago. I actually bought my first ever tube of GHS Fast-Fret after that gig, but haven't even used it yet because when I took my bass out of the bag, it looked like the strings were 8 years old on a used bass at a pawn shop. I immeditaly changed to the Labellas and will never buy Cobalts again.
In my experience that feeling they have when new goes away pretty quickly, usually after just a few days
I just put a set on my fretless, which has for the past few years had GHS Pressurewounds. I do think they are a bit 'stickier' than a traditional flat (I have DR Legends on another bass, which are sooooo smooth), but also agree that after a few days of playing I don't find it as noticeable.
Since they sound more like round wounds than other flats, it goes with the territory. The stickiness does fade. They work great for me! 
Stickiness is gone after a few days, and a good wipe down also does wonders.
But they are not actually sticky. It's like a tactile illusion. I swore they had a residue on them at first, but discovered my hands were actually reaidue-free. I will give them a nice long try, but after a month or so they still have a lot of bite. And it's not a gradual release when I move. It's either 100% stuck or or totally loose without much inbetween. I can adapt, but I would prefer not to. If I had known about the texture thing I would have gone with pressurewounds instead.
So I’ll also recommend the other string I use: SIT Silencers. They are pressure wound nickels…. The only “round” I use.
Same experience. I was ok with them practicing and at rehearsal, but the friction got into my head on the first gig I tried with them. I had to switch back to the Pressurewounds I’d come from.
Funny you should mention the Silencers. I tried them once and found them so sticky they reminded me of half-rounds. No go. Back to the Pressurewounds.
Interesting - Pressurewounds feel sticky to me, but Cobalt flats don't.
Oh, they have a residue... probably a purposely applied preservative or maybe leftover yuck from the manufacturing process. I'm not sure. But, a quick wipe down with alcohol on a white rag will show you that there's something on the strings. I don't remove it anymore since I've had issues with Cobalt flats rusting. I just put up with it.
Huh. I guess I'm not completely losing my mind then. Thanks.
I love the sound , and love their gap ( like Ti flat ) ..... because polished glossy string surface on LTF4a ( DR legend, 760FL, Chrome ECB..... ) easily get sticky once hand get sweat....
Any moisture on your hands will make them feel sticky. I've tried lots of others, but keep coming back to them.
I liked them. After awhile, I didn't notice the stickiness. The only concern I had is fret wear. I've since switched to TI jazz flats and have no need to put the cobalts back on.
My experience is that cleaning the strings with alcohol before installing removed most of the stickiness and they felt right after a few days of playing
