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Ernie Ball strings on a Stingray, who knew?
- Thread starter FirewalZ
- Start date
Someone tell me about Cobalts…what gauge is equivalent to super slinky in tension and flexibility. The issue I have with most flats is they are often too stiff for my hands. How long do they last vs the price?
Yep, basically under $20 on Amazon, get here the next day. I’ve played Sun and Fatbeams for years but have not tried Highbeams.
These days I mainly play on a 1996 3 band Stingray or a 2018 Special, and have been a stalwart DR user for years, Sunbeams and Fatbeams. I had an outdoor gig approaching with a power trio I play with, and on a whim decided to throw a set of super slinky’s on my 96. I was pleasantly surprised at how good they sounded, as the older 3 bands can be too sizzly. They were not overly bright like I thought, meaty lows, nice and clear and comfortable to play on. These will probably be what I keep on that bass.
Here is a clip, if Facebook permissions allow viewing….keep in mind this was outside, it had been raining and was in the 40’s, probably the coldest gig I’ve played on.
Link Removed
I’d never tried Slinkys until I bought my first EBMM bass. Then, I wondered why I waited so long to try out a set!
Slinky's are a bit less bright that I want strings, so maybe....on a Stingray (which is pretty bright to start with) they would be just right.
Yep...Ive always initially chosen strings that balances out with a bass's natural tone. My 96 3-band is zingy, over the top upper mids, so I had Sunbeams on it for a while now. However, when SB's go out, they get real dead and lifeless. I tried the Super Slinks on a whim and really like them. But many are stating they die quickly?
All strings follow a similar sonic curve - bright initially, they lose their initial "zing" quickly, then settle into a long period where they are reasonably stable for a good long while. When someone says that a string "dies quickly" what it means is that they bought strings that are not bright enough for their taste/instrument during that "long period". Whenever you buy strings, if you want them to last a long time, they should sound too bright out of the chute. Strings that sound "just right" will be too dull when the initial zing is gone, and will be criticized as "dying fast".
I generally like the mid life of a string as well....these were the first in a while that I liked right away. I find fatbeams retain some spank longer than most....but I dont like SS on non-SS fretted bass's.
I had a set of Group iii EB flats, seemed similar to Chromes. Definitely an investment in time, like many flats, as they take a while before they settle in. But the type of music and style I play, flats won’t work for me. Many are recommending the Cobalts, which I haven’t tried yet.
D
They're not my favourite strings but at least the short scale Slinkys have decent tension, unlike the short scale sets from several other string manufacturers.
I know this don't count but I use EB Slinkys on my Sterling Ray4. I get compliments on the sound all the time,
- Oct 22, 2015
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Using EB Group IV flats on my '79 StingRay, and more than casually pleased.
I used EB strings for awhile - a long time ago. Although I don’t hate them, I don’t think they’re in the same league as DR for wound strings or with TI Jazz Flats for flat wounds. Whoever said that EB sounds good for a week — You’re Right!
Sounds great! Got to love the sound of a good stingray! EB's sound so great out of the pack but man they die quick and they die hard. I understand that it is not easy to keep strings fresh for long especially when playing hard but I just can't use them economically and environmentally.
Everyone’s been posting how they die so quickly….what’s an alternative that’s the same or close that won’t…avoiding SS?
DR's are great. I use to only use EB and D'aD's because they were inexpensive at music stores. Now I discovered that DR's are comparable in price if you buy online and many of their models are round core, so easier on the fingers. The stainless steel does not really bother me, they do not get dull quickly.
I don't know. I've never thought Slinky's really died right away, more like they mellow out a bit once broken in. I happen to love the broken in tone these strings produce.
They do sell a coated set.See Expensive! I haven't tried them for bass but they are my go to strings for guitar.
I use prosteels for this reason and have been using them for 10 years.
I have them on my SB 14 ( musician’s import version of a Sterling ) and I love them on THIS bass. I am a DR guy as well as Dunlops but now am settling back into DR’s only for my round wounds with the SB 14 being the exception. Over 5 years and I haven’t changed them. I am liking the sound of settled/dead rounds tone. I the past I would change my strings like 4 times a year. My tastes in tone have changed. The cobalts are really nice but they were brighter than I desired
.They did seem louder as advertised, not a huge difference but I did notice it.
.They did seem louder as advertised, not a huge difference but I did notice it.
