Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt Flats Short Scale

[WI Short Scaler]

Different color, for sure! They look kinda different, especially on my Fiesta Red Jag SS Bass. This almost makes me want to do like @WI Short Scaler did and dye them silks a more pleasant color, lol.View attachment 5237088 View attachment 5237089

Ha, funny my OCD gets mentioned more often all the time. Yep, I dyed them. The green on my red headstock was a little too "Christmas-y" for my taste. And I thought it really looked hideous on my blue headstock too.

I have actually gone with the Ernie Ball medium scale roundwound slinkys. I think they have a little more depth for lack of a better word and a brightness that isn't so "clacky." They feel a little more loose too. I have them on both parts-basses now. Used them for two gigs last weekend and really happy with them.

I love playing flats but I just found more pain in my old arthritic hands trying to get a better tone out of them.

 

[HaphAsSard]

@covermego - could you please measure the distance between ball-end and start of silk (or, since it's more or less visible, to the tapering point right past the silk) for the short-scale Slinky Flatwound (cobalt flats)?

@WI Short Scaler - same request, please, and I'll also go ahead and ask you about winding length (ball to taper) of the medium-scale Slinkys, as well.

Data on Ernie Ball's less-than-long strings is missing from our usual resources.
Many thanks in advance to both.

 

[michael_t]

@covermego - could you please measure the distance between ball-end and start of silk (or, since it's more or less visible, to the tapering point right past the silk) for the short-scale Slinky Flatwound (cobalt flats)?

According to the info on the EB website, it's supposed to be 32.5".

 

[HaphAsSard]

According to the info on the EB website, it's supposed to be 32.5".

Hey. Indeed it is:

Designed to fit 30.5" scale basses, the string length is 44" with a taper at 32.5"

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Thank you. Since these things were unobtanium for a long time after they were first announced, I hadn't thought of checking the website (I did know about 32.5" being the winding length of the NPS roundwound short-scale Slinky sets).

As for the medium-scale Slinkys, the measurement is still unclear - product page only says

specifically engineered to fit basses up to 32.5" in scale length as well as short scale basses with string through bridges such as vintage Fender Mustangs.

Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Bass Medium Scale Strings | Ernie Ball
So I remain curious about those.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Paging @WI Short Scaler...

@covermego - could you please measure the distance between ball-end and start of silk (or, since it's more or less visible, to the tapering point right past the silk) for the short-scale Slinky Flatwound (cobalt flats)?

@WI Short Scaler - same request, please, and I'll also go ahead and ask you about winding length (ball to taper) of the medium-scale Slinkys, as well.

Data on Ernie Ball's less-than-long strings is missing from our usual resources.
Many thanks in advance to both.

Yes, I can do that for the EB rounds. I noticed I couldn't find that info either but I had read reviews on them and bought them off a killer deal I found locally. Ended up buying two more sets from @DoctorZee in the TB classifieds.

I'll get it to you soon.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Hey. Indeed it is:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Thank you. Since these things were unobtanium for a long time after they were first announced, I hadn't thought of checking the website (I did know about 32.5" being the winding length of the NPS roundwound short-scale Slinky sets).

As for the medium-scale Slinkys, the measurement is still unclear - product page only says

Slinky Nickel Wound Electric Bass Medium Scale Strings | Ernie Ball
So I remain curious about those.

So this is what I found with the Ernie Ball Medium Scale rounds.

I took a couple photos of the strings on the bass at the headstock. Both of the basses are string through body.

The spot where the winding ends is very "slight" in comparison to other strings I've used. Usually there's a much clearer delineation between the winding and the core of the string. To me anyway.

I took off the A string and got 34" from ball end to winding end. Hope that helps.

 

[HaphAsSard]

So this is what I found with the Ernie Ball Medium Scale rounds.

I took a couple photos of the strings on the bass at the headstock. Both of the basses are string through body.

The spot where the winding ends is very "slight" in comparison to other strings I've used. Usually there's a much clearer delineation between the winding and the core of the string. To me anyway.

I took off the A string and got 34" from ball end to winding end. Hope that helps.

View attachment 5238317

View attachment 5238316 View attachment 5238315

Yeah, it does! Much appreciated!

 

[Moredator]

I notice there are 45-105 and 50-110 sets. Anyone have experience with both? Maybe 50-110 too much for standard tuning?