Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Finally tried Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats
- Thread starter Gyver
- Start date
Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats offers a lot of gauges... aside from lighter gauge gives you less tension. how does the gauge affects the sound? is it less gauge less bottom end and more treble?
I’ve tried both. I like a heavier gauge on my short scales as it increases tension a bit to match the medium in my long scales.
I keep trying different strings but usually end up with the EBCF on my bases.
Not that I'd know the difference, but I love them on my Ray4, agreed whoever said it feels like they're made for it...
I’ve had these on my bass for a few weeks now. They’re still a little sticky, which I know will go away. I’m really enjoying the B in particular; not too tight, not too loose.
Swap the Cobalt 2814 from Bacchus J to my PJ ,and the Ti flat from PJ move to Bacchus J.
Ti flat sound muscle on PJ , but the Cobalt flat add on some belling-bite . Meanwhile, Ti flat sound a bit dry to my ear on Bacchus J compare to Cobalt flat. The Cobalt E string are notable different on tone definition and clarity quality.
Compare to their output, the Ti flat are higher than Cobalt flat. Ti flat > Cobalt flat > LTF4A ~ 3 of my favorite flatwound.
String sitffness ~ Cobat flat 45-100 > LTF4A > Ti flat.
Ti flat sound muscle on PJ , but the Cobalt flat add on some belling-bite . Meanwhile, Ti flat sound a bit dry to my ear on Bacchus J compare to Cobalt flat. The Cobalt E string are notable different on tone definition and clarity quality.
Compare to their output, the Ti flat are higher than Cobalt flat. Ti flat > Cobalt flat > LTF4A ~ 3 of my favorite flatwound.
String sitffness ~ Cobat flat 45-100 > LTF4A > Ti flat.
I'm thinking of trying a set of these out but not sure what gauge to start with. If you're used to a medium (105-85-65-45) or a medium/regular-light (100-80-65-45), what is the recommended gauge to try for the flats. Stay with the same gauge or go lower or higher? Understanding that I may need to try different gauges to figure out what works best. Just looking for a starting point.
My personal favor are 2814(45-100) instead 2813(45-105). The 80A and 100E sound better string to string tonal balance on my Jbass and PJ bass, also the Stingray .
Last edited:
I would stick with the same gauge. IMO they feel very similar to roundwounds in the same gauge but have a little more flex. Think Sunbeams.
So, EB cobalt flat fans:
has anyone tried the new Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwound short-scale sets (no. 2818, 45-65-85-105; no. 2817, 50-70-90-110) yet?
NAMM 2023: Ernie Ball announces Slinky Flatwound electric guitar strings and Flatwound Short-Scale bass strings
They're finally in stock, or a handful of days away from being so, at Sweetwater (1, 2), Thomann (1, 2), Bax Music (1, 2) and a number of French and Greek vendors.
has anyone tried the new Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwound short-scale sets (no. 2818, 45-65-85-105; no. 2817, 50-70-90-110) yet?
NAMM 2023: Ernie Ball announces Slinky Flatwound electric guitar strings and Flatwound Short-Scale bass strings
They're finally in stock, or a handful of days away from being so, at Sweetwater (1, 2), Thomann (1, 2), Bax Music (1, 2) and a number of French and Greek vendors.
Last edited:
The old set move to PJ bass couple days ago, now the fresh set are ready to load on this lovely Bacchus BJB1RSM.
Well...I currently have an old, well broken-in set of D'Addario Chromes on this '15 G&L Tom Hamilton ASAT Bass. I'd salvaged them from a project bass, and after junking the rounds that came on the G&L, I thought "WTH, I'll try the Chromes, just for s...ts and grins..." I was pleasantly surprised at how they performed, and I like them quite a bit. But...
- I don't normally use D'Addario strings at all, since I'm allergic to whatever they finish their strings with. It takes too much time & effort with some very nasty solvents to make them playable. So, I just avoid them; especially since, with any other strings I've used so far (after 50+years of playing bass), I can just put them on; tune them up; and go. So...
- What to replace them with? I have a couple of new sets of Chromes (don't remember ever buying them, but... there they are), but I haven't been looking forward to going through the PITA cleaning process when the old ones die. OTOH, I do like the "bright flats" sound from this bass, along with the stiffness (I play with a pick most of the time). What to do, what to do...
Happily, I also have a couple of sets of EB Cobalt Flats (these I do remember buying). After listening to the videos, and reading everything here? I think I know what strings the bluest, blingiest bass I own will wear...
Whether I would have liked them on the ASAT bass or not, is a question that won't be answered, I'm afraid. Sometime after the above post, the old Chromes showed signs of dying, so I thought time for the Chromes. However, I discovered to my chagrin, that my 2 sets of EB Cobalt Flats... weren't real Cobalt Flats. They were counterfeits. Fairly convincing ones, but... definitely fakes. The old Chromes, however, were just about dead by that time, and so... I turned to my usual stand-by flats; Fender 9050Ls. And, they're still on the ASAT Bass. To tell the truth? I don't think they'll be coming off, either. I like them on that bass - a lot. And, not having to dial out the "excess" high end of really bright flats, gives me more tonal options...
Last edited:
Ouch, that's a pity. :\
Do you have another bass, with a 2x2 headstock, to put them on?
Can’t come up with any reason for that other than you got a dud. I’ve used these on short scales where the metal is around the post with no problems.
This is pretty normal issue on EB Cobalt flat, I been experience same issue on early day.
Try Google, lot of this report on net.
I've had a set of the short scale 2818 cobalt flats on my SBMM SS Stingray for 2 weeks now.So, EB cobalt flat fans:
has anyone tried the new Ernie Ball Slinky Flatwound short-scale sets (no. 2818, 45-65-85-105; no. 2817, 50-70-90-110) yet?
NAMM 2023: Ernie Ball announces Slinky Flatwound electric guitar strings and Flatwound Short-Scale bass strings
They're finally in stock, or a handful of days away from being so, at Sweetwater (1, 2), Thomann (1, 2), Bax Music (1, 2) and a number of French and Greek vendors.
I'm generally a round wound guy (Stringjoy 45-105 nickels) but I want to like flatwounds. I've tried multiple types in the past but never appreciated them… often too much tension, too little flexibility, and all that I tried sounded like rounds that I needed to discard. I needed something other than rounds for my fretless and ended up with LaBella white tapes. They aren't my favorite strings but they work ok on that bass.
I play only short scales so when I saw the EBs, I thought I'd try them on my #2.
Short answer, I like them. They don't sound like they’re missing something but instead have an authority through all the registers. The tension is still a little more than I prefer and they are less flexible than the rounds I like. They don't have the same attack as rounds when slapping but they don't sound bad.
All in all I like them and they're staying on #2. Will they replace the Stringjoys on #1? Not now, maybe/probably not ever but we'll see. I haven't had a chance to try them with the band yet so we'll see how they sit there...
Last edited:
