Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinkies

[GTHintz]

Wanted to post some thoughts on the Cobalt Slinkies roundwounds. I've had a set of 40-60-80-100-130 laying in the string pile for some time now and today they got strung up to my Dean edge q5. After dressing and polishing the frets and cleaning up the fretboard on came the strings. . .
Tension feels very similar to the nickle slinkies from memory. Stiffer side compared to what I'm used to.
Oddly the d string felt extra stiff which is different.
These are pretty glossy and brighter looking than most steels. Even more than some nickel plated strings.
Tone I'm noticing that they started very bright and snappy which I was expecting. Not the most harsh and bright I've ever tried. That's probably going to be hi beams or Rotosound that take that one. Within a few hours of playing them and as they got settled in I'm noticing a larger than normal drop in brightness which is new to me. It's happened pretty fast as well. By the end it's starting to sound a lot like I'd imagine the broken in tone will be. That's actually a more drastic shift than Rotosound or Dean Markley Blue Steel or anything else I've tried. Typically when I play stainless steel they don't get to the broken in tone for a day or two at least. These cobalts seem to have a similar character in that they definitely change from very snappy to more deep sounding but like I said happened pretty quickly. I'm kinda worried about killing them completely because of my body chemistry like I do nickel but we'll see. I'm sticking with them till they die. I want to see what happens. So far however I'd much rather play these cobalts than the og nickel slinkies. I kill those quick and they start sounding like mud within hours. And tear up my fingers which so far hasn't happened with the cobalts. The texture is decently smooth really.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I'd much rather play these cobalts than the og nickel slinkies. I kill those quick and they start sounding like mud within hours.

Jeez maybe try coated strings

 

[GTHintz]

Jeez maybe try coated strings

I have tried black beauties on another bass. Not bad. But these cobalts are unique and there's no way of knowing if they work for me until I try it out. I posted here hoping if anyone else has tried these that they'd like to post thier experiences.

 

[coryr1000]

I have been using the Cobalt and Nickel wound Super Slinkys for a few years now. I switch between the 2 depending on what's available but I prefer the Cobalts. They are louder and punchier and have a dirtier sound that I prefer over the Nickels. I don't have an issue with them not lasting long enough. They stay plenty bright for a while as long as I wipe them down after each use.

 

[GTHintz]

I have been using the Cobalt and Nickel wound Super Slinkys for a few years now. I switch between the 2 depending on what's available but I prefer the Cobalts. They are louder and punchier and have a dirtier sound that I prefer over the Nickels. I don't have an issue with them not lasting long enough. They stay plenty bright for a while as long as I wipe them down after each use.

Nice! I'm especially curious if anyone has used these that's like me and allergic to nickel. It'll be something to note for everyone here when we are always recommending strings for folks.

 

[coryr1000]

Nice! I'm especially curious if anyone has used these that's like me and allergic to nickel. It'll be something to note for everyone here when we are always recommending strings for folks.

I don't have any allergies to nickel but the nickel wound strings leave my fingertips very dirty!

 

[GTHintz]

I don't have any allergies to nickel but the nickel wound strings leave my fingertips very dirty!

I find that as well as the string itself gets discolored eventually but it'll die way before that happens. The blister that forms on my fingers is the worst part. The Cobalts didn't do that to me thankfully but I still worry about killing them prematurely. I guess that's better than your fingers getting torn up though.

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

Everything you mentioned is why I love Cobalts. They're the baby bear porridge of strings for me. Not too bright, not too dark. Not too stiff, not too loose. Wears in quickly and don't tear up my fingers. I've heard horror stories of them snapping while being installed, and none of the 20 or so packs I've bought over the years have done that.

Love me some Cobalts : )

 

[RGerhart]

I've used the regular nickel Slinkys and the cobalt, and I preferred the regular. I do love, however, the cobalt flats. They are the perfect flat wound for me: not too stiff, not too loose, not too bright, not too dark. They feel great on my P.

 

[michael_t]

I don't have any allergies to nickel but the nickel wound strings leave my fingertips very dirty!

Maybe this is a case where nickel is allergic to you.

 

[Snake101st]

I've used the regular nickel Slinkys and the cobalt, and I preferred the regular. I do love, however, the cobalt flats. They are the perfect flat wound for me: not too stiff, not too loose, not too bright, not too dark. They feel great on my P.

I've got those on my fretless Tony Franklin P and love em, too!

Also have the rounds on my Bongo 5 and they're great there, since the preamp lets me get pretty flexible tones with cobalts as the starting point

 

[Yahboy]

About stiffness thing, on my personal experience, cobalt flat feel.stiffer on ibanez SR/Yamaha trbx modern 2+2/2+3 headstock compare to traditional Fender/Sterling headstock.

Maybe cause by angle pulling from tuning post till nut slot on modern headstock design.... I guess...

I agree the D string are higher tension than others, but not notable/serious like ECB81 D string.

 

[lowdownbp5]

I love my cobalts as well. Rounds on my US Master EP5. Flats on my ESP fretless 5

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Wanted to post some thoughts on the Cobalt Slinkies roundwounds. I've had a set of 40-60-80-100-130 laying in the string pile for some time now and today they got strung up to my Dean edge q5. After dressing and polishing the frets and cleaning up the fretboard on came the strings. . .
Tension feels very similar to the nickle slinkies from memory. Stiffer side compared to what I'm used to.
Oddly the d string felt extra stiff which is different.
These are pretty glossy and brighter looking than most steels. Even more than some nickel plated strings.
Tone I'm noticing that they started very bright and snappy which I was expecting. Not the most harsh and bright I've ever tried. That's probably going to be hi beams or Rotosound that take that one. Within a few hours of playing them and as they got settled in I'm noticing a larger than normal drop in brightness which is new to me. It's happened pretty fast as well. By the end it's starting to sound a lot like I'd imagine the broken in tone will be. That's actually a more drastic shift than Rotosound or Dean Markley Blue Steel or anything else I've tried. Typically when I play stainless steel they don't get to the broken in tone for a day or two at least. These cobalts seem to have a similar character in that they definitely change from very snappy to more deep sounding but like I said happened pretty quickly. I'm kinda worried about killing them completely because of my body chemistry like I do nickel but we'll see. I'm sticking with them till they die. I want to see what happens. So far however I'd much rather play these cobalts than the og nickel slinkies. I kill those quick and they start sounding like mud within hours. And tear up my fingers which so far hasn't happened with the cobalts. The texture is decently smooth really.

I bought a set once. They lasted 3 days. 3 more, and they started rusting. Only pack of those I'll ever waste my money on.

The flats, however, are pretty dope.

 

[GTHintz]

I bought a set once. They lasted 3 days. 3 more, and they started rusting. Only pack of those I'll ever waste my money on.

The flats, however, are pretty dope.

That'll be interesting to see. At first glance I kinda had a feeling these weren't going to be the greatest things I've ever tried. Hearing them decay quickly wasn't a great sign.

 

[Yahboy]

That'll be interesting to see. At first glance I kinda had a feeling these weren't going to be the greatest things I've ever tried. Hearing them decay quickly wasn't a great sign.

If you can keep the Cobalt well clean every time after practice or jamming, she can sound last. I have an old set on my Jazz bass since 2019, still sound crisp and solid current day , especially the E string !

If your fresh set found dirt or corrosion sign after 2 week, and you dint care them, sure she start decay then sound dead after that.

 

[tindrum]

Maybe I have “clean” sweat but Cobalt rounds last me longer than any string I’ve used before. Almost all of my basses have them now. Incredible strings!

 

[GTHintz]

Maybe I have “clean” sweat but Cobalt rounds last me longer than any string I’ve used before. Almost all of my basses have them now. Incredible strings!

See I know if they are changing that fast it means that I affect cobalt like I do nickel. How well do you get along with nickel strings?

 

[tindrum]

See I know if they are changing that fast it means that I affect cobalt like I do nickel. How well do you get along with nickel strings?

Perfectly fine. Zero issues.

 

[GTHintz]

Perfectly fine. Zero issues.

Nice. Just asking because I want to see if my hypothesis is correct about nickel and cobalt. I suspect that nickel allergies means that you're also prone to cobalt allergy. Or that if you kill nickel then you're likely to kill cobalt. If that's the case then I'd like to know so I don't recommend these to someone who doesn't do well with nickel and wants to try the cobalts.