Long term users of EB Group III and Cobalt Flats

I use EB cobalt flats on all my basses and have for some time. I don't play shows but I play a couple hours everyday and have not had any issues with my cobalt flats at all.

 

Cobalt flat 2814 on Squier VM 77j(5 months ), VM fretless P (2 months), squier CV60P (1 months after take out from VM fretless p ), sub ray 4 (less than 1 months) , Yamaha trbx 504(4 months ) and current Cort GB74JJ (8 months )

Cobalt 2816 on Cort Action DLX V (4 months), sterling sub ray5 (2 months )

EB 2810 on sterling rays 5 (6 months. )

Cobalt flat start lost some metallic zing after 2 week then keep the fresh open sounding tone more than 3 months. After that, you will notice overal tone become less open sounding, but the juicy meaty tone still nice present and both E and B string still sound solid instead dead and dull.

The 8 months+ old 2814 set on my current Cort GB74Jj still sound healthy , crisp and growl.

Meanwhile , the 2810 set on my sub ray5 sound bit dry compare to 2816, but the sustain still great for flatwound bass string even after 5 months use.
Both B and E string sound tight ,solid and focus. Tone are even across the fretboard.

Both EB flat are the best flatwound 5 string set I been use, you have no suck and dead B E string happened on GHS flatwound 5 string set.

 

Rusty issue happened on my first set of Cobalt 2814, after that, no rusty thing meet .
But, on my 8 months old set, there appear some grey spot on string surface which I never touch/play/fret.
So, remove those grey spot with a piece of nail polish block easily.

But, the group flat just keep the shiny string surface like others stainless steel flatwound I been use.

Cobalt 2814 sound overly bright to me on my sub ray4. But, I get a nice smooth tone on it with the mix of ADG GHS flat + Cobalt flat E string.

I prefer 2813 set on Real 2band EQ EB classic stingray , thick, fat growly stingray tone along with bass knob increase and dial back the treble knob a bit.

 

I used the Cobalt flats on my JB-2 and they corroded within 2 weeks. I got lucky with the body chemistry I guess. They sounded good but I took them off. A lot of other people don’t have the problem so I’d probably give them a try and see if they work for you. They’re nice sounding strings.

Joe

 

Glad youre trying these great strings out. Another happy user of both here. CF set on my Bongo5 going on 2 years. Theyce mellowed, but sound great with the bright switch on. Also using a mix n match gague set of Groups on my NS Omnibass. Wirey and kinda gnarly, and great under the bow. One year with this set, honestly sound has not changed since new.

 

A little late to the conversation, but I'll include my experience for the benefit of those researching

Cobalt flats:
Sounded great on my Stingray Special 4HH in a few pickup selections, and not so great in others (to my ears). Absolutely no problems with any claims of rust, breakage, stickiness, etc. Great strings overall. Bright sound, long lasting... LOVE the purple wraps

Group III flats:
Sounds fantastic on my Vintera P-bass.
Sounds so good on my Stingray Special (all 5 pickup positions) 4HH that I've decided to keep the bass (very nearly sold it-- had a buyer at asking price...). It's surprisingly become the BEST sounding 'Ray that I've played. Never would have imagined a set of strings could have such a dramatic effect on the tone.
Like the Cobalts, the Group IIIs have been free of rust, gunk, breakage, etc.

Side note:
Experimenting with many different strings on four different basses has reinforced my theory: a set of strings that sounds great on one bass, doesn't mean that set will sound good on another. Another example: while D'Addario Chromes sounded good on the P, and 'Ray, they sound fantastic on my Bongo...

Hope this helps~