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Finally tried Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats
- Thread starter Gyver
- Start date
If you’re looking to try flats I would suggest D’Addario chromes 50-105 item number ECB82. Smoothest string I’ve found. Rivals nylon and have a nice warm mellow sound. I’ve tried most every string and in MHO are the nicest
Bummer! I had the exact thing happen when I swapped them from the first bass I had them on (Fender J) to my Aerodyne (same scale) about 2 weeks ago! I'm really digging the tone, though, and they sound great on the Aerodyne so I got another set; now I've got backup strings for the E-D.
Thats is truly bummer, but after email to EB customer service team, they agree sending me a replacement set.
Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwound for my 5 - 2 sets break the D string this week!
Ernie Ball Flatwound Manufacturing/QC Issues?
Question - Problems with Cobalt Flats. Anybody else?
Question - Cobalt Flatwounds breaking
Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Ernie Ball Super Slinky Flatwound Bass Guitar Strings, 45-100 Gauge (P02814)
EB knew and familiar on this issue, you can email them and provide the evidence.
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I recently put a 40-95 EB Cobalt Flats on a Jazz Bass. Initially I loved the feel and playability. But after about a month the intonation on the G string started going #. At 12th fret it was way #, and even after I maxed out the bridge I couldn't get intonation anywhere close to what it should be. So, I ordered the old reliable EB Custom Gauge Group IV Flatwounds. They have more tension, but they sound warmer, and no G string issues that seem to be going on with the light gauge Cobalts.
Few months ago, i put a new set 45-100 on my bass , the G string only shown # while intonation, so, i loose the string 3 times and tweak the intonation screw . Suddenly break on G string tuning post on 3rd time.
I do believe it is inner hex core issue while production. The G string has no twist at all, because string just sound right without twisted string chorus effect.
If Ernieball wanna sell the Cobalt flat for long time, they should improve their quality.
Agree, or replace them without the hassle. "Oh, we understand that there have been breakage issues with the G strings in this set, sorry for your trouble, here's a replacement." Makes customers happier than having to badger them into replacing a fragile string, as I had to do. I'm really digging their tone and playability, but their support could use some work.
My one vote is for NOT changing anything about these strings. I am sorry about your bad luck.
If they make the outer winding gap narrower (again?), or the core thicker, etc, then the Cobalt Flats we now love will no longer exist.
Cobalt Flats are unique because of their construction and materials. Don't change anything.
If they make the outer winding gap narrower (again?), or the core thicker, etc, then the Cobalt Flats we now love will no longer exist.
Cobalt Flats are unique because of their construction and materials. Don't change anything.
i finally found a Cobalt guage set that makes my Fretless nail the tone and feel i've been searching for
040-060-080-100 - sadly, they don't sell that combo
after a bridge and tuner upgrade with the same string set, the silk came off revealing a fragile looking G string around the tuning post
i may have to rethink the Cobalts if G breakage is an issue.
If it's staying in tune, you've made it past the usual point of difficulty. Most of the problems I've read on here and my own personal example of breakage occurred when installing or reinstalling. EB support initially said reinstalling is not recommended and they were not going to replace the string, although they did relent and eventually replace it. At this point, I expect you're good.
Perhaps, but I have one more bridge mod to do
So, this will be the 4th install
Time for a final set
Bridge mod done
Same set seems to be holding another install
These sound amazing on my fretless thinline jazz
I've tried Cobalt flats on 3 different basses, mostly of the jazz variety, and each time there seemed to be something weird going on tonally with the G string I could never fix. Otherwise I thought they sounded great. Never had an issues with them breaking like some have had.
Now I find myself tempted to try them on a P bass because I want that round sound with the flat feel but don't want to encounter weird G string issues and waste $50.
Someone tell me the Cobalts sound fine (on every string) on their top loaded p bass.
Now I find myself tempted to try them on a P bass because I want that round sound with the flat feel but don't want to encounter weird G string issues and waste $50.
Someone tell me the Cobalts sound fine (on every string) on their top loaded p bass.
They all sound fine across the board on my top-loaded, threaded-saddle Vintera P.
I hear what you're talking about on the G string on both my top-loaded Fender J and my Aerodyne PJ, both full-scale. I think it's the harmonics that that string produces. At first I thought I needed to lower the pickups, but it sounded the same with either pickup and I hear it unamplified, too. I've also loosened them to make sure they weren't twisted, but that didn't help.
But they work well in a mix, and the higher notes sound great on the handful of tunes that call for that sort of thing. And they're breaking in nicely, still retaining that growl that drew me in from the start. They're not quite as bright as they were new, but they're plenty bright still! I'm primarily using the Aerodyne these days, which is my darkest-sounding bass, and they still have it sounding much brighter. It's sounding better than ever. So even though the G sounds a little different by itself, it's not causing any issues and overall it's easy to ignore. For me, anyway.
I think it's just the character of these strings and I don't think the type of pickups matter with regard to that phenomenon, if in fact we're talking about the same thing.
They sound fantastic on my P’s, no issues.
Fantastic for me on top-loaded J, PJ, and Stingray.
Only down side is that 5-6 years in, having taken some extreme beatings and real climate / temperature changes, they still sound and feel awesome but I sometimes want that round-like *zing* heard when new (so I can EQ it out of course), and have many unopened packs that at this rate I may never otherwise open.
So count me in as someone with a Cobalt Flats “problem”, albeit a great problem to have.
FWIW, I’ve adopted the suggested stringing technique on the packaging for all my stringing of any type, and my sets were purchased long ago.
Only down side is that 5-6 years in, having taken some extreme beatings and real climate / temperature changes, they still sound and feel awesome but I sometimes want that round-like *zing* heard when new (so I can EQ it out of course), and have many unopened packs that at this rate I may never otherwise open.
So count me in as someone with a Cobalt Flats “problem”, albeit a great problem to have.
FWIW, I’ve adopted the suggested stringing technique on the packaging for all my stringing of any type, and my sets were purchased long ago.
Yeah this is exactly what I’m talking about. Maybe it could work in my current band because I’m doing a lot of upper register pick playing and chords with a chorus pedal always on for every song. The G string oddity might even be a bonus. lol
They are nice but a little "hard" feeling under the fretting hard, IMO. even at the lightest gauge.
