Mysterious half-round strings, purple silk wrap top and bottom -

[Z Axeman]

Got this sea-foam green metallic P-Bass Special bass that I bought used with a set of strings on there which I love the sound and the feel off.
Unfortunately the E-String developed a defect, giving me a buzz, so I needed to replace it. Thought the strings were the original Fender strings, but they were not, as I came to find out. Unfortunately the previous owner does not recall what he put on there, as a friend did it for him.
The look and feel like the hybrid half wounds (ground wounds?), the roundwounds they shave down. I bought a set of GHS Precisions flatwounds (which have purple silk on the top ends), and installed the E-string, but the sound and feel is sure different. I have attached 3 pictures, one showing the different purples of the three that the bass came with in comparison to the GHS. Also a detail shot of the string itself, the GHS surely is a flatwound, the others not so much, and the last pic shows the bridge, see the E-String without the silk.
Does anybody have an idea what manufacturer and type strings these are? At $25 a set I like to avoid to purchase more failures of match like the GHS's. Any help is appreciated.

 

[michael_t]

Purple silk at both ends and they look, feel and sound like half-rounds?

My guess would be they're the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. They look almost like half-rounds because of the way they leave small gaps between the outer winding to achieve flexibility. They're also a lot brighter than typical flats.

 

[mmbongo]

Looks like the outermost wrap of the E string is going around the tuning post, which is probably what is has broken the string.

 

[Z Axeman]

E-String got damaged mid stream, no breaks at any end, buzzed at the high A close to the damaged spot ...

 

[michael_t]

Looks like the outermost wrap of the E string is going around the tuning post, which is probably what is has broken the string.

The E string is the GHS Precision Flat that was just put on there for comparison. It's always too long because they only come in "long plus" (38" winding length). The other three are not the P Flats.

 

[Z Axeman]

Purple silk at both ends and they look, feel and sound like half-rounds?

My guess would be they're the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. They look almost like half-rounds because of the way they leave small gaps between the outer winding to achieve flexibility. They're also a lot brighter than typical flats.

And they have purple silk on either end?

 

[e-flat]

Purple silk at both ends and they look, feel and sound like half-rounds?

My guess would be they're the Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. They look almost like half-rounds because of the way they leave small gaps between the outer winding to achieve flexibility. They're also a lot brighter than typical flats.

Yeah, I agree. They look like Cobalt Flats. Same silk color, too... that sort of matte purple.

Cobalts are the brightest flat I've tried, brighter than Chromes. Pretty agressive sounding for a flat, great strings! I can totally see how they'd be mistaken in their sound for half-rounds.

 

[Z Axeman]

Thanks for the input !! Checked what these go for, at $35-40 it's a costly gamble. The packaging for the 50-105s is yellowish/green, the lighter Cobalt flats come in a blue kind of packaging, nothing that suggests these are purple wrapped at the end.
Hmmmm ....

 

[michael_t]

Thanks for the input !! Checked what these go for, at $35-40 it's a costly gamble. The packaging for the 50-105s is yellowish/green, the lighter Cobalt flats come in a blue kind of packaging, nothing that suggests these are purple wrapped at the end.
Hmmmm ....

Flats with light purple silks on both ends? ID?

 

[e-flat]

Thanks for the input !! Checked what these go for, at $35-40 it's a costly gamble. The packaging for the 50-105s is yellowish/green, the lighter Cobalt flats come in a blue kind of packaging, nothing that suggests these are purple wrapped at the end.
Hmmmm ....

If you just need a single string, I think Bass Strings Online ( Jason @SLaPiNFuNK ) sells single Cobalt strings over here:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[michael_t]

If you just need a single string, I think Bass Strings Online ( Jason @SLaPiNFuNK ) sells single Cobalt strings over here:
Invalid Link Removed

Looks like these are the Cobalt rounds, not flats. Doesn't look like they have the Cobalt Flats in singles.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Doesn't look like they have the Cobalt Flats in singles.

Recentish development (first mention on these boards was on a late May post by @Coolhandjjl) but they in fact do, here:
late May post

 

[Z Axeman]

If you guys are sure these are the animal, I take your word for it and get a set. I'm sure it'll improve sound even more across the board. Thanks to all.

 

[michael_t]

Recentish development (first mention on these boards was on a late May post by @Coolhandjjl) but they in fact do, here:
late May post

I sometimes have a hard time finding what I'm looking for on the BSO site. I know it's there somewhere but it's almost going through a maze to find it behind a closed door. I realize it's been in the process of being re-designed and updated but they need to make it a little more user-friendly and dummy-proof for someone like me.

 

[Z Axeman]

Ordered a (test) set from a seller on eBay for about $29.50, they are exactly what I was looking for !!
Already made an order for another 2 sets from the String Store online at $28.45 ea. shipped, as I want to equip another bass with theses. Thanks for all your help guys.

 

[Root 5]

I'm thinking the E = GHS Precision flat.
A,D,G = Ken Smith Slick Rounds.

The A,D,G look too smooth & tight to be Cobalt flats IMO.

Edit: Brain fart. The A,D,G are wrong colour to be Smith strings.