Ernie Ball Cobalts Woes

[logdrum]

The silks also unravel out of the blue. Call them, they will send replacements. Even if you followed the instructions, they are also a one time r string - they may not make it another retune if you have to do any maintenance that requires loosening them. And the QC has gone down and the price has increased.

 

[michael_t]

So am I! The next brightest flats are D'Addario Chromes and I recommend them for you...

D'A Chromes ECB84 were the flats I started out with back in 2009, when I acquired my first bass, 2008 Highway One Jazz. Switched to Fender 9050L in 2014 and never looked back. No QC issues as they are made by D'Addario.

 

[Crusher47]

I have these strings on 2 different basses and one of them iss strung through the body ('70's Retro Stingray) and I installed them like any other strings and haven't had any issues....maybe I just got lucky

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

So I bought a set of Ernie Ball Cobalts today at a local shop. I wanted NYXLs but they didn’t have any and recommended these. I must have hit the opposite of a jackpot because two of them snapped as I was winding them on the posts. I didn’t even bother with the other two, and the store refunded my money. Anyone else experience something like this?

If I were you, I'd write a Blues song about this experience.

 

[Levitamin]

If I were you, I'd write a Blues song about this experience.

Talking Ernie Ball Broke Cobalt Blues

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

Talking Ernie Ball Broke Cobalt Blues

String Breakin' Blues​

Verse 1:
Walked down to the guitar shop today
Walked down to the guitar shop today
Needed some new strings to play

Verse 2:
Wanted NYXLs, that's my brand
Wanted NYXLs, that's my brand
But the clerk had other plans

Chorus:
Got them Ernie Ball Cobalts
Lord, they didn't last too long
Got them Ernie Ball Cobalts
Everything went wrong

Verse 3:
First string snapped as I turned that post
First string snapped as I turned that post
Second string gave up the ghost

Verse 4:
Didn't even try the other two
Didn't even try the other two
Got my money back, but I'm singin' the blues

Outro:
Cobalt blues, got me cryin'
Cobalt blues, strings are dyin'
Cobalt blues, won't buy 'em again
Cobalt blues, that's how this song ends

 

[Levitamin]

String Breakin' Blues​

Verse 1:
Walked down to the guitar shop today
Walked down to the guitar shop today
Needed some new strings to play

Verse 2:
Wanted NYXLs, that's my brand
Wanted NYXLs, that's my brand
But the clerk had other plans

Chorus:
Got them Ernie Ball Cobalts
Lord, they didn't last too long
Got them Ernie Ball Cobalts
Everything went wrong

Verse 3:
First string snapped as I turned that post
First string snapped as I turned that post
Second string gave up the ghost

Verse 4:
Didn't even try the other two
Didn't even try the other two
Got my money back, but I'm singin' the blues

Outro:
Cobalt blues, got me cryin'
Cobalt blues, strings are dyin'
Cobalt blues, won't buy 'em again
Cobalt blues, that's how this song ends

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

String Breakin' Blues​

Verse 1:
Walked down to the guitar shop today
Walked down to the guitar shop today
Needed some new strings to play

Verse 2:
Wanted NYXLs, that's my brand
Wanted NYXLs, that's my brand
But the clerk had other plans

Chorus:
Got them Ernie Ball Cobalts
Lord, they didn't last too long
Got them Ernie Ball Cobalts
Everything went wrong

Verse 3:
First string snapped as I turned that post
First string snapped as I turned that post
Second string gave up the ghost

Verse 4:
Didn't even try the other two
Didn't even try the other two
Got my money back, but I'm singin' the blues

Outro:
Cobalt blues, got me cryin'
Cobalt blues, strings are dyin'
Cobalt blues, won't buy 'em again
Cobalt blues, that's how this song ends

Just for the record, I have a new set of Cobalts I tried a few months ago on my Jazz bass. The feel was somewhat odd, and the tone was a bit too bright for my taste. I kept 'em in case I need that tone for a future project. I've tried a batch of strings on that bass and ended up going with La Bella 360FL Deep Talkin' flats. I like them alot, especially with a pick, especially for that classic Joe Osborn sound. They don't break.

 

[MdC64]

Yes, we've heard this before. Did you follow the double-overlap install instructions (...don't cut the string)?

Riis

I’m going to install some EB Cobalt flats on my P bass. Do you trim any of the strings before following the install instructions? Thanks.

 

[Levitamin]

I have these two left from the pack if anybody needs some extras. Let me know

 

[Zooberwerx]

I’m going to install some EB Cobalt flats on my P bass. Do you trim any of the strings before following the install instructions? Thanks.

No....not even the exposed core wire.

Riis

 

[logdrum]

No....not even the exposed core wire.

Riis

On an Inline Tuner, yes, but on 2+2 or 3+1, or 5 strings 4+1 or 3+2 or 2+ 3, you will have to cut excess on the G string, because if you overlap or bunch it up on the post, that is likely to unravel the silk. Ernie Ball really needs to address this issue. It has gotten worse. I cut, get a heat shrink and immediately cover 1/2 - 1 inch. IS cobalt that slippery for silk to attach? Of the 10 packs I have gotten the last 7 years or so, the last 4 had all issues. The light sets seem to be better surprisingly

 

[Zooberwerx]

On an Inline Tuner, yes, but on 2+2 or 3+1, or 5 strings 4+1 or 3+2 or 2+ 3, you will have to cut excess on the G string, because if you overlap or bunch it up on the post, that is likely to unravel the silk. Ernie Ball really needs to address this issue. It has gotten worse. I cut, get a heat shrink and immediately cover 1/2 - 1 inch. IS cobalt that slippery for silk to attach? Of the 10 packs I have gotten the last 7 years or so, the last 4 had all issues. The light sets seem to be better surprisingly

Nope, not even on the G string. I had a boatload of wraps, yes, but the coils were neatly stacked and the silk remains intact. This is a 2 + 3 headstock.

Riis

 

[logdrum]

Nope, not even on the G string. I had a boatload of wraps, yes, but the coils were neatly stacked and the silk remains intact. This is a 2 + 3 headstock.

Riis

You are lucky. I will not use them anymore now that I've found Magma Flats which have the roundwound sound in a flat. thing going Life's too short to deal with Slinky Cobalts

 

[HaphAsSard]

I've found Magma Flats which have the roundwound sound in a flat.

Apologies to the OP for the OT, and to you because this is probably the third time or so I ask you this question (to be clear, you did answer the first couple times) but I'm curious as to how well Magma UltraFlats age.
As in: do they last as long as cobalts or other flats? Assuming yours have gotten there, do they die...gracefully, or, I dunno, rusty? with a horrible final tone?

 

[-Stingray]

Yes, this happened to me as well. EB sent me a replacement, and that one snapped, too.

I went back to Chromes.....

 

[Zooberwerx]

You are lucky. I will not use them anymore now that I've found Magma Flats which have the roundwound sound in a flat. thing going Life's too short to deal with Slinky Cobalts

Might try those next go-round but I still have a set of LTF's waiting in the wings. Disclaimer: I pulled the Cobalt Flats but have them sitting intact for another project should it arise. Let's see if they withstand the re-install.

Riis

 

[logdrum]

Apologies to the OP for the OT, and to you because this is probably the third time or so I ask you this question (to be clear, you did answer the first couple times) but I'm curious as to how well Magma UltraFlats age.
As in: do they last as long as cobalts or other flats? Assuming yours have gotten there, do they die...gracefully, or, I dunno, rusty? with a horrible final tone?

I reviewed this thing extensively and at 14 months they are still going strong and has mellowed out some. I recommend the light gauge if you like a slinky feel the 105 was on the stiff side,


In October I recorded them again - The sound remains the same today and I've move it to my passive jazz bass about 2 weeks ago

 

[Yahboy]

So am I! The next brightest flats are D'Addario Chromes and I recommend them for you. They're fantastic, well made, and the best part is that they don't come with instructions!

XL Chromes | Flat Wound Bass Guitar Strings | D'Addario

D’Addario XL Chromes flatwound bass strings deliver warm, rich tone and an ultra-smooth feel ideal for Jazz, Blues and Rockabilly players.

www.daddario.com

But ECB81 has no such lasting brightness as Cobalt flat.....

 

[MdC64]

No....not even the exposed core wire.

Riis

Thanks for the tip.
Successful install on my Fender Nate Mendel Precision.
First time leaving the exposed core wire on all strings but followed the enclosed instructions. Sound and feel great.