Ernie Ball Flatwounds - Very pleasantly surprised! Cobalt Flats are A+++ on a StingRay

[Tim Skaggs]

What gauge do you use?

40-95 on the 35” scale Peavey GBass
45-100 on the 34” scale basses.
50-110 on the 30” scale basses

I have sets on 5 basses and have replaced at least 4 sets over the last few years. I’ve moved a few sets around between basses also. No broken strings yet.

 

[carsonchilders]

I REALLY love the cobalt flats

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

I REALLY love the cobalt flats

Right!? They're just so good! What gauge(s) do you use?

 

[Iristone]

Stingray with flats: classic tone like John Deacon.

 

[rickdog]

I can't think of why I'd need to remove the strings on the StingRay to do a setup on it.

I didn't remove the strings - I loosened them to take the tension off before adjusting the truss rods. I was carefully bringing them back up to pitch when the string broke.

 

[Yahboy]

Anyone who owns classic stingray and play aggressive pick style > tube amp rig should try the cobalt flat 55-110 !

 

[GIBrat51]

Currently, the only Ernie Ball flats I'm using are the Group IV's that the factory put on my Schecter Stiletto Studio 4-FL fretless bass. They're pretty well broken in, and on that bass? I like them. A very "modern", mid-range-y tone that the active electronics can really work with. Plus, they're flexible enough to work well on a fretless - but stiff enough for me to play with a pick. I'm used to playing really stiff flats that way; really flexible strings throw me off... Yeah, I know you're not "supposed" to play a fretless bass with a pick, but it's a lined fretless, and I usually play it like it has frets, anyway So...
As for the Slinky Cobalt Flats? I thought I had a couple sets of them (40-95 and 45-100), but for several years I didn't have a bass I wanted to try them on. The chance came when the old, salvaged set of D'Addario Chromes I had on a G&L ASAT Bass finally gave up the ghost. Unfortunately, turned out that my Slinky Cobalts - weren't Slinky Cobalts. They were very cleverly packaged counterfeits. So, into the dumpster they went, and the ASAT bass wears Fender 9050L's... And, TBH? The Fenders are just about as bright a flat as I want, anyway. Plus, every bass I own currently wears strings I like, and I'm too lazy - and not curious enough - to pull perfectly good flats off a bass, just to see if I might like some other strings. Which, from everyone's description of the Slinky Cobalts, I probably won't, anyway...

 

[Yahboy]

2814 shine on my both Bacchus J and Matt Freeman P.
After EB group lll, Ti flat and Fender 9050L, my Charvel PJ found her great match ~ EB 2814 too....

 

[scuzzy]

have them on the bass in my avatar and on my fretless DP. I really like them. I am not a huge fan of old-skool style flats, so I've never tried the group line, but I have never read anything bad about them.

 

[dustinymichaels]

Historically I always played Roto SM77s 40-100. Lately, group III and IV. EB flats on an EBMM magic. Go figure.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

How do they (Cobalt Flats) compare tension-wise to normal 45-105 Nickel Slinkys? Flats usually are a bit stiffer than rounds.

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

How do they (Cobalt Flats) compare tension-wise to normal 45-105 Nickel Slinkys? Flats usually are a bit stiffer than rounds.

They aren TI Jazz Flats low in tension but definitely lower than most flats. Still slapable. Stiffer than rounds but definitely flexible

 

[Nebadon2000]

How do they (Cobalt Flats) compare tension-wise to normal 45-105 Nickel Slinkys? Flats usually are a bit stiffer than rounds.

I recently put Cobalt Flats 45-100 [aka Slinky Flats] on my Special 4H replacing OEM Slinky's 45-100 roundwound

They are a tad stiffer but didn't have to reset neck relief after change

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

I recently put Cobalt Flats 45-100 [aka Slinky Flats] on my Special 4H replacing OEM Slinky's 45-100 roundwound

They are a tad stiffer but didn't have to reset neck relief after change

Thanks, this helps! I have a new Stingray Special 5 and found the OEM Nickel Slinkys to be really stiff for my fretting hand. I now changed the strings to DR Lo Rider Nickels, which I know well from my P-Bass, and was surprised that they too feel a bit stiffer than what I'm used to on the P-Bass. So now I'm afraid that even the 45-100 will be too much for me. Strange.

 

[HowieD72]

I use the EB Cobalt 45-100 flats on my modified Fender Jazz. Combined with the Kent Armstrong Lipstick Single Coil pups and Audere Pro JZ3 - 2 Band, the sound is off the charts! I've tried several roundwound & flats on this bass & the EB Cobalt's are the keepers! IME, the tension on the 45-100 are comparable to 45-105 DR Lo-Rider S/S which was my previous favourite string. And the neck didn't need adjustment.

 

[HowieD72]

How do they (Cobalt Flats) compare tension-wise to normal 45-105 Nickel Slinkys? Flats usually are a bit stiffer than rounds.

I haven't tried the 45-105 Nickel Slinkys, but the 45-100 Cobalt Flats felt pretty similar to the DR Lo-Rider S/S strings I used to use.

 

[HowieD72]

Will give the Group 3 flats a try on my P-Bass. Already have Cobalt flats on my Stingray and Jazz basses. LOVE them!!

+1. Yes, they sound great on jazz basses!

 

[Yahboy]

How do they (Cobalt Flats) compare tension-wise to normal 45-105 Nickel Slinkys? Flats usually are a bit stiffer than rounds.

2814 set pretty close to Fender 7250 45-100 , firmer feeling under my plucking finger.

Less stiff compare to Fender 9050L 45.60.80.100

 

[Yahboy]

My aged 2814 set since 2019, still serve me well until current day on my bacchus J.

But she need good maintenance to avoid corrosion happen......

 

[PhinDog]

I recently put Cobalt Flats 45-100 [aka Slinky Flats] on my Special 4H replacing OEM Slinky's 45-100 roundwound

They are a tad stiffer but didn't have to reset neck relief after change

Are you liking them? Do you find a big difference in tone? Darker/smoother or can you still get some sparkle and clarity? I play the same bass. MM SS4H