Finally tried Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats

[Gyver]

Howdy,

I finally tried Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats on my Ric 4003, and must say I am really impressed (and surprised!). I like bright /middy flats (Chromes, Fender 9050, TIs), and from everything I've read about the Cobalts I expected them to be bright, which they are. But I was surprised by how punchy and tonally balanced they are. And no "clank," either. Awesome.

If you are looking for a string that straddles the worlds of flats and rounds I highly recommend them. I'm curious to hear how they sound as they age, but for now it appears I have a new favorite flat.

Gyver

 

[Chrisk-K]

I've had Cobalt flats (40-95) on my MIA P since 2018. They still sound awesome. I've tried all kinds of bass strings, and the Cobalt is my favorite flatwound string.

 

[yobtaf]

I put some on my Nash pb63 couple days now. I’m really happy. I have fender flats on another p bass and I like the cobalts a lot. I am curious as well how the sound down the road a bit.

 

[casbonano]

Nice. It would be great to hear from anyone who has used these on a Jazz.

 

[KevinDBassist]

I love them on my Stingray ! I am a flat wound user and I have Labellas on my Precision , but the Cobalt flats are a beast on the Ray (45-105) . They feel and sound like they are made for that bass .

 

[ShawnG]

Nice. It would be great to hear from anyone who has used these on a Jazz.

I use them on my USA Geddy and love them. Recently put a set of Sadowsky Blue Label nickel rounds on that bass, lasted less than a day. Cobalts are on that bass to stay.

I believe BrownMark uses Cobalt Flats on his USA Geddy, so there should be some clips of him playing a jazz with them. @lowdownthump uses them on at least one of her Jazz basses, maybe she has a soundclip or can add to the discussion.

I came across the Cobalt Flats by watching this video when I was starting out. Of all the strings played, the Cobalt Flats sounded best to my ear (although I’m a finger-style player)

 

[jallenbass]

The one time I tried them (40-95) I found the G string to be thin sounding. Anyone else notice that or is it just me?

 

[Gyver]

Does anybody know how the EB Cobalt Rounds compare to the Cobalt flats? I’m liking the flats so much I might try the rounds on my Jazz Bass.

 

[Gyver]

The one time I tried them (40-95) I found the G string to be thin sounding. Anyone else notice that or is it just me?

I am actually finding the G string to be nice and beefy (.45).

 

[burgerdj]

+1 on the Cobalt Flats. Favorite string, hands-down. I just hope they don’t change the recipe.

 

[burgerdj]

Does anybody know how the EB Cobalt Rounds compare to the Cobalt flats? I’m liking the flats so much I might try the rounds on my Jazz Bass.

I didn’t like the rounds nearly as much as the flats. On the bass I tried them on, they produced a strong honk in the midrange. I might try them again, but I’ve found rounds I really like. The flats are where it’s at.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Agreed. I put them on my PJ bass and I love them. Great for every style except slap/funk. Fantastic for rock and and country.

 

[2F/2F]

Yup. Great strings. My favorite flats when I don't want the old school thing that La Bellas, Pyramids, RS88s, etc. provide. The EB flats are very balanced.

And they will indeed clank extremely well if you beat on them. They are hands down my favorite strings for clank.

That being said, I prefer a mixed set made of single strings: .045, .060, .080, .105. It's the G and A from the .100 set, the D from the .095 set, and the E from the .105 set. They feel and sound even more balanced from string to string this way.

 

[2F/2F]

Nice. It would be great to hear from anyone who has used these on a Jazz.

I prefer a classic style set of flats on a Jazz Bass. They push the weak Jazz Bass pickups better in terms of output and low end.

Cobalts are killer with slightly beefier pickups and above, like a P Bass pickup.

 

[krfoss]

I'll be the nay sayer. I just threw on some cobalt flats on my Lakland 5502 and didnt find them as punchy as others have. I'll leave them on and hope for some maturation, but it may speak to the reality that there is no magic string... and I was optimistic.

 

[ec9]

Have them on my rickenbacker 4003s. It's been almost a year and they still sound great. Definitely my favorite strings on the rick.

 

[blacktocomm]

I have them on my Peavey T20 and they feel and sound great. Solid strings for sure.

 

[jallenbass]

I am actually finding the G string to be nice and beefy (.45).

Hmm. Maybe I'll try them again. I loved the sound of the other strings.

 

[Dominic D]

I've currently got Cobalt Flats on my Gibson EB5. I imagine they'll stay there for a long time.

 

[ComeHomeShane]

+1

I put them on my Stingray Special and LOVED the tone. Played them for a few days and really don't have anything bad to say. I am very curious how they would sound on my G&L jazz...

However, I ended up taking them off and replacing them with the EB Cobalt rounds (which I also love). The flats were great, but for the style of music I play with the my Ray Special, I need the clank and zing of the rounds. The flats were a bit too nice.