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Elixir Steels vs. EB Cobalts. My little review!

#21
Modern Growl said:
Are the Cobalts coated? I don't think they are but oddly enough, someone at EBMM told me they were???
Click to expand...

I don't think so. They are not marketed as such, but you bring up a good question. They are not coated like Elixir, which have that really slick feel. Cobalts are very rough feeling, like stainless steels. They could be 'coated' I guess...but in a different way than Elixirs. I've never played the coated EB or D'Addario bass strings, but I do use the coated D'Addario acoustic guitar strings and you'd never know they were coated by feeling them.

They are priced about the same as D'Addario coated strings, you could be onto something there. Come to think of it, their muted top does sound like what you'd expect from a coated string. That being said, the coated Elixir Steels are a good bit brighter so I don't want to throw a blanket over all coated strings.
 
#22
Aww, I wanted to play the game... I hate when movie spoilers are given away. This gives me the same feeling

but great review! Keep it up! I'm on the hunt for "my tone" and so far, Dunlop Nickels have been my favorite. Looking for some more grit so I currently have a set of Rotosound steels :D haven't had a chance to gig them yet though...
 
#24
mmbongo said:
They are definitely way brighter than normal Elixirs! Maybe not as bright as Pro Steels or Rotosounds, but they definitely have a nice bite that you don't get from the regular Elixirs.
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if they last longer than prosteels, i may look into it.

what do you know.. they dont make them for 6 string basses. well.. since my 5 was stolen, it looks like i WONT be trying these. i know its a limited market but CMON!
 
#25
sonic assassin said:
if they last longer than prosteels, i may look into it.

what do you know.. they dont make them for 6 string basses. well.. since my 5 was stolen, it looks like i WONT be trying these. i know its a limited market but CMON!
Click to expand...

Where did you look? I didn't think the Elixir Steels were available for sale yet.

But they should make them for 6 strings, they make them in their normal strings.
Invalid Link Removed
 
#26
Well, I'm ready to declare a winner in this battle. For ME, for my Warwick Streamer...Cobalts.

I put the Elixir Steels back on and they sounded 'rubbery' in comparison. Also dialing in highs makes them very harsh, which I thought was just my new preamp until I tried a few different string sets.

Put my trusty Progressives back on, they were not bad. But not as punchy or as full sounding as the Cobalts. Playing over the bridge pickup was not clear or defined at all.

Tried Dean Markley Blue Steel nickels. Nuh-uh. No real bite or aggression at all. Only put the E on and knew there was no use proceding any further.

DR Sunbeams. My go-to string. Not nearly enough bite. Very muted sounding on this bass. Love them on my Spector NS-5 though.

DR Nickel LoRiders. These may give the Cobalts a run for their money. I didn't have the same gauges as everything else, I had a .105 instead of the .100 which I like. But they were clear and defined with plenty of punch and ring. Quite similar to the Cobalts. But, playing right over the bridge pickup was a muffled mess. However, I'm going to give it another go someday with the proper gauges. The smaller E string might do better.

I just love the depth and punch of these Cobalts. Playing over the neck pickup is bright and snappy, and playing over the bridge pickup is clear and articulate. They are still a little grabby and rough, but I discovered they are not a lot rougher than Sunbeams or LoRiders. They are just rough compared to the Elixirs.

So, go to Bass Strings Online
Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop...
Tell him mmbongo sent you!
Try some Cobalts!
 
#27
mmbongo said:
Well, I'm ready to declare a winner in this battle. For ME, for my Warwick Streamer...Cobalts.

I put the Elixir Steels back on and they sounded 'rubbery' in comparison. Also dialing in highs makes them very harsh, which I thought was just my new preamp until I tried a few different string sets.

Put my trusty Progressives back on, they were not bad. But not as punchy or as full sounding as the Cobalts. Playing over the bridge pickup was not clear or defined at all.

Tried Dean Markley Blue Steel nickels. Nuh-uh. No real bite or aggression at all. Only put the E on and knew there was no use proceding any further.

DR Sunbeams. My go-to string. Not nearly enough bite. Very muted sounding on this bass. Love them on my Spector NS-5 though.

DR Nickel LoRiders. These may give the Cobalts a run for their money. I didn't have the same gauges as everything else, I had a .105 instead of the .100 which I like. But they were clear and defined with plenty of punch and ring. Quite similar to the Cobalts. But, playing right over the bridge pickup was a muffled mess. However, I'm going to give it another go someday with the proper gauges. The smaller E string might do better.

I just love the depth and punch of these Cobalts. Playing over the neck pickup is bright and snappy, and playing over the bridge pickup is clear and articulate. They are still a little grabby and rough, but I discovered they are not a lot rougher than Sunbeams or LoRiders. They are just rough compared to the Elixirs.

So, go to Bass Strings Online
Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop...
Tell him mmbongo sent you!
Try some Cobalts!
Click to expand...

I hear ya and agree wholeheartedly. Now that I've had the Cobalt's on for a week and have played them in a band setting my other strings (to include my precious Hi Beams) are not sounding quite "right". These babies bring the thunder. Punchy, clear and articulate. If you want a big, floppy wet sandwich these ain't the strings.

Great review thread mmbongo!
 
#31
mmbongo said:
Did you miss the one with that big huge yellow "6" on it? :)

Elixir sells 4 string sets, then you buy the 5th and 6th strings that you want to go with them.
Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

Elixir web site list product # 14777 for the steels. That is NOT the product # showing up on your link to bassstringsonline. The link takes us to standard Elixirs.

It appears only the nickle coated are available or what's the deal on on availability?
 
#33
Hard to believe it's been almost a whole year since I did this. Man does the time fly.

I have since put the stock electronics back in my Warwick and have went back to the GHS Progressives for now. I really liked the sound of the Cobalts, but the rough feel and extreme amount of fretwear I saw after about 2 months scared me away from them.
 
#39
I tried the Cobalts,loved the tone,hated the feel. Tried Dragonskins,didn't care for them either. Went back to Elixirs nickles. Have a set of D'addario coated strings that look promising. Anybody need a set of cobalts or Dragonskins?
 
#40
mmbongo,

How's the high end on those Dragonskins? I love Hi Beams for that sound and was wondering if these Dragonskins even come close. FWIW, I did not like the Neons at all, probably because they are coated nickel.
 

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