Since these have been around for a few years, surely there are users with opinions and experiences of Cobalt Flats aging. They have this reputation of sounding fairly round-like. Do they keep this character for a long time? If not, what do they sound like afterwards? Do they die off suddenly? Do they keep intonation? I'll appreciate any input on longevity etc.
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Long term EB Cobalt Flats opinions
- Thread starter Marihino
- Start date
Have a set migrate from Cort jazz bass to my current Bacchus jazz bass which close to 12 months usage. No corrosion issue. The fresh from pack bright hi mid and treble become solid . The growl and crunch still there , the E string still sound healthy and focus without muddy.
Overall tone get mature compare to fresh from pack airy tone.
Have a fresh set on my both Squier CV50P(2814) and Trbx504 with C standard convert.(2816)
Overall tone get mature compare to fresh from pack airy tone.
Have a fresh set on my both Squier CV50P(2814) and Trbx504 with C standard convert.(2816)
I've had a set of Cobalt Flats on my Stingray Special for some time now. No breakages, sticky feeling, no rust, and the things still sound bright & round-wound sounding.
Having said that, I'm swapping them out today for a set of EB Group III flats. Mainly because I am looking for something a little more mellow sounding.
Something else I'd like to hear from user's concerns fret wear.
As I understand it, cobalt ranks higher on the hardness scale than stainless steel. According to the string packaging, cobalt is used for the outer ribbon and underwraps. So theoretically, a string constructed of material harder than that of the frets should wear the frets quicker than strings made of softer material.
My 'Ray is outfitted with stainless steel frets, and I do see a little wear, which I find surprising from flats that have been on there for about 6-months.
Anyone else notice fret wear with the cobalt flats?
Having said that, I'm swapping them out today for a set of EB Group III flats. Mainly because I am looking for something a little more mellow sounding.
Something else I'd like to hear from user's concerns fret wear.
As I understand it, cobalt ranks higher on the hardness scale than stainless steel. According to the string packaging, cobalt is used for the outer ribbon and underwraps. So theoretically, a string constructed of material harder than that of the frets should wear the frets quicker than strings made of softer material.
My 'Ray is outfitted with stainless steel frets, and I do see a little wear, which I find surprising from flats that have been on there for about 6-months.
Anyone else notice fret wear with the cobalt flats?
Depand how hard on your fretting finger.
No fret wear issue so far.
Only experience the rust issue on early batch which has larger winding gap than current one.
After removing the Cobalt Flats from my Stingray (stainless steel frets), I noticed a bit of wear on the frets. Whether or not it can be contributed to the Cobalts is anyone's guess. I've tried a few different sets on this bass, but the Cobalts have been on there the longest by far.
Spent an hour or so cleaning up the frets, and restrung the bass with the Group III's. Success-- love 'em! Now of course, I've got to go online to find a few backup sets to keep on hand-- LOL!
Spent an hour or so cleaning up the frets, and restrung the bass with the Group III's. Success-- love 'em! Now of course, I've got to go online to find a few backup sets to keep on hand-- LOL!
Been using them for a couple years and honestly I love them. I don't feel them sticky as some complain, never had corrosion issues, BUT I have noticed that the lifespan of sets is a bit inconsistent. The first one lasted me almost a year before I felt a replacement was due, the second set I put kind of died within a couple months, but even when the "fresh" timbre of new strings went away, the mellowed character was still pleasing to the ear and totally usable. Tight and strong. Current set is about 5 months old and still sounds like new. Of all the various brands/models I tried, these were the first and only flats, but are the ones that work best for me, performance and quality wise. Worth the cost for me, all things considered.
My first set of EB Cobalt Flats were a part of the early design with wider spacing between wraps. They were uncomfortable for me to play due to wrap spacing edges when I’d slide to a note. I removed them shortly after installation due to the way they felt when playing.
About one year ago I bought another set and they feel great and are still on my Fender P Bass. I really like their tone. That said, I didn’t experience rust or corrosion issues with either the old or current set. One thing I do is apply GHS Fast Fret to each set of strings when initially installed and reapply as needed. For me as needed works out to be every few weeks or so.
About one year ago I bought another set and they feel great and are still on my Fender P Bass. I really like their tone. That said, I didn’t experience rust or corrosion issues with either the old or current set. One thing I do is apply GHS Fast Fret to each set of strings when initially installed and reapply as needed. For me as needed works out to be every few weeks or so.
I have 3 basses that have had cobalt flats on them for over 2 years there are no corrosion issues with any of them and some of the brightness is still there but not like when they were new. Thay have mellowes some but not to the thuddy muddy sound some flats get. They are still very articulate for lack of a better word even at the 2 + year mark
devnulljp
Supporting Member
I just bought a set of these (the #2814s) and took them off after an hour. Very disappointed, they weren't cheap.
They're sticky. They almost feel like there's a sticky coating on them or the winding is rough (or like they have dried in sugar solution on them).
I wonder if they corroded in the packet, that can't be normal, right?
They're sticky. They almost feel like there's a sticky coating on them or the winding is rough (or like they have dried in sugar solution on them).
I wonder if they corroded in the packet, that can't be normal, right?
It’s part of the awesome.
Like new performance tires, you gotta give them a workout to settle in and get comfy.
Maybe wipe them down with Fast Fret or similar?
Same… more like 4 years now, on 2 basses. The ones with least play time obviously feel and sound most fresh.
Love these strings so much I want to put new ones on but still dig the old.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
Really, that's normal? Ugh, nah I chucked them in the 'use only if desperate on a gig' box, and put on a set of Thomstiks I'd been saving since before the last price hike.
Shame you didn’t dig ‘em. Terrible feeling instantly disliking a new thing, but esp. strings given the setup time and physicality of doing replacement, setup, and doing it all again if unhappy.
Almost all my basses have them. After a few years now all I notice is a very subtle mellowing of the notes and my slides are a bit smoother. About an hour a day practice between 13 basses on rotation. I would say if it were an experiment then most of my test subjects have comparable play time and wear. Totally recommend these strings to anybody!
40-95 extra light set feels and sounds most balanced.
The lighter the bass, the better.
Give them about 5 hours play before judging - or a good wipe first. They're not TI Flats ready out of the wrapper.
Months later the brightness cools down.
My slight beef is with the silks on these and many other strings behaving like dryer lint. Cheap silks can bind up in string trees as well.
The lighter the bass, the better.
Give them about 5 hours play before judging - or a good wipe first. They're not TI Flats ready out of the wrapper.
Months later the brightness cools down.
My slight beef is with the silks on these and many other strings behaving like dryer lint. Cheap silks can bind up in string trees as well.
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I've been using a set on my fretless Godin (which over the last year has gotten far more play than any of my other basses) for probably a year and a half and they still sound phenomenal and have no signs of rust or anything. I also bought em used on Talkbass originally, so they are even older than a year and a half. They definitely lose that initial brightness (as any string will), but retain more growl and articulation than other flats I've used for that long. They are the real deal!
