EBMM StingRay Special Club

[Pet Sounds]

I've been using flats on basses since 1995, when I put LaBellas on my first American P-Bass (sunburst, rosewood and tort, natch!). This was in the years BTB (before Talkbass); I probably read about LaBellas in Bass Player magazine.
I have rounds on some basses, too, but I favor flats and have 'em on StingRay, Precision, Jazz, Hofner and Rickenbacker basses.

What I was trying to say here is that I think flats can sound great on various basses, not just the basses they're usually associated with.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

What I was trying to say here is that I think flats can sound great on various basses, not just the basses they're usually associated with.

Amen!!

 

[jam.majors]

I just put some EB Slinky Flats on my special and dang: feel nice and they have a stronger top end than others I've used. Any one else use these? (Didn't they used to be called Cobalt Flats?)

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I just put some EB Slinky Flats on my special and dang: feel nice and they have a stronger top end than others I've used. Any one else use these? (Didn't they used to be called Cobalt Flats?)

Yep!!! All of the above. I use them on my BFR Crescendo 5HH, and my Amethyst Sparkle 5H. I have extra Slinkys on mine. These and TI Flats are my go to strings. I dont use any other brands. TI Flats on my Short Scale and my BFR Fuego Fretless 5. TI rounds on Sandberg.

This player turned me on to them about 6 yrs ago.

 

[Mr_O'B]

No pedals here.

When I got my Special 5H a month ago, I was thinking, gee, I wish it were a little more aggressive as you described.

I was mucking about setting up my new Special with my preferred strings and out of the blue, I decided to raise the pickup a bit to see what would happen.

Oh, man, now we're talking! Just that little bit of height raising gave the bass a lot more of that aggressive tone and I was missing a little at first. I measured that height change, but I can't recall what the measurement is, so when I get back home, I'll measure it again if you like.

Using D'addario Pro Steels helps the aggressiveness of the tone as well, I think. And I just prefer the Pro Steels over anything else.

Many bassists prefer Bernard Edwards’ tone while I prefer a more aggressive tone. Geri O, I bet we hear the same ideal Music Man tone in our heads!

 

[Mr_O'B]

Yep!!! All of the above. I use them on my BFR Crescendo 5HH, and my Amethyst Sparkle 5H. I have extra Slinkys on mine. These and TI Flats are my go to strings. I dont use any other brands. TI Flats on my Short Scale and my BFR Fuego Fretless 5. TI rounds on Sandberg.

This player turned me on to them about 6 yrs ago.

OMG, I have to try those strings his bass sounds incredible. I had no idea that Flats would sound like that!

 

[Nebadon2000]

All of my Specials wear flats . Perfect match !!!

What Flats work best for you?[single H]

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

What Flats work best for you?[single H]

Extra Slinky Flats ( Cobalt) They are a versatile flat. I can get Tony Levin, John Deacon, Bernard Edwards , Louis Johnson , or Paul Denman sound.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I used Slinky Flats[aka Cobalt Flats] at the time 2019 and they sounded great on SBMM Stingray 34 I had for a very short time.[not a pleasant experience with SBMM]

They were very 'Sticky' left my hands black and dropped some black goop spots all over Bass
The black hands and goop lessened but the stickiness remained to some extent even with constant cleaning and wiping after every song in a set

used Bass and strings about 2 months

Have they changed?

 

[Nuage420]

They were very 'Sticky' left my hands black and dropped some black goop spots all over Bas

I've never had any kind of goop or sticky substance on a set of cobalt flats. Nor black fingers but maybe your sweat or body oils reacted to the strings.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I've never had any kind of goop or sticky substance on a set of cobalt flats. Nor black fingers but maybe your sweat or body oils reacted to the strings.

Maybe but I don't sweat much if at all when playing nor are my hands 'oily' and in 45+ years playing [Rounds]
never had a problem

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I used Slinky Flats[aka Cobalt Flats] at the time 2019 and they sounded great on SBMM Stingray 34 I had for a very short time.[not a pleasant experience with SBMM]

They were very 'Sticky' left my hands black and dropped some black goop spots all over Bass
The black hands and goop lessened but the stickiness remained to some extent even with constant cleaning and wiping after every song in a set

used Bass and strings about 2 months

Have they changed?

This has not been my experience . I’ve used them since they 1st came out.

 

[Nuage420]

Maybe but I don't sweat much if at all when playing nor are my hands 'oily' and in 45+ years playing [Rounds]
never had a problem

Are they the only cobalt strings you've used in 45+?

 

[Nebadon2000]

Are they the only cobalt strings you've used in 45+?

Yes and only flats: have read that some have sticky and some residue problem but goes away fairly quickly with other flats and reccomend denatured alcohol treatment before putting strings on

 

[PrimitiveMan]

I'd still love a second Special 5H to put flats on... I love Pure Blues on my Aqua Sparkle, but would love a second Special to have some Dunlop flats on. They have been my favorite flats. The Cobalts flats are really great too!

 

[cholyoke]

I used Slinky Flats[aka Cobalt Flats] at the time 2019 and they sounded great on SBMM Stingray 34 I had for a very short time.[not a pleasant experience with SBMM]

They were very 'Sticky' left my hands black and dropped some black goop spots all over Bass
The black hands and goop lessened but the stickiness remained to some extent even with constant cleaning and wiping after every song in a set

used Bass and strings about 2 months

Have they changed?

I've purchased EB cobalt rounds new and received a bass with a used set. They feel super sticky and leave a black residue on my fingers. It must be something in my finger oils/sweat that reacts with the strings. It is a shame because all of the demos I have seen sound super zingy, which I like.

 

[Stevorebob]

My experience with EB Cobalt rounds is, yes, they can darken my finger tips. No big deal, but YMMV. I have not found them sticky at all, but they are rougher than nickel strings — closer to steels. They do bring zing, but more so they provide enhanced lows with textured, growly low-mids like a big-cat purr.

I have Cobalt flats on my ABG. No stickiness there, either. But I did clean the strings with alcohol and treated them with hand cream before installation.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I've purchased EB cobalt rounds new and received a bass with a used set. They feel super sticky and leave a black residue on my fingers. It must be something in my finger oils/sweat that reacts with the strings. It is a shame because all of the demos I have seen sound super zingy, which I like.

Well I guess Cobalt and my body chemistry don't mix; Learned something new about myself

It's a shame I did like their sound and agree with #Sterorebob "enhanced lows with textured, growly low-mids"

 

[Stevorebob]

Well I guess Cobalt and my body chemistry don't mix; Learned something new about myself

It's a shame I did like their sound and agree with #Sterorebob "enhanced lows with textured, growly low-mids"

The black fingers are worth it. And the Cobalt round tone is especially good on pre-Special StingRays.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I wonder if they are doing a Special in this Vault exclusive finish?