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New EB Cobalt Flats?

#441
I like my set of 45-105 Cobalt flats. Sort of a little bit of rounds, flats, groundwoumds, and pressurewounds all rolled into one.

I put a set of these on my Lakland Skyline, which can go either through the bridge or through the body.

One look at the unusual (but in my case successful) installation instructions, and I knew it would be best to just go through the bridge. This is how I string all sets of flats nowadays. I got tired if slipping and breaking strings, especially the E or the G.
 
#444
gidbass said:
For what it is worth, have strung up two sets, one on my Ric and the other on a P and no breakage yet. Been over a month...

Good Luck!
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How do they sound on your Ric? I just got a 4003S and was considering trying flats on it. I had a 4003 strung with Fender 9050cl's and they sounded really growly and punchy. Still have the strings on my Pbass but no longer the 4003 unfortunately!
 
#445
1stnamebassist said:
How do they sound on your Ric? I just got a 4003S and was considering trying flats on it. I had a 4003 strung with Fender 9050cl's and they sounded really growly and punchy. Still have the strings on my Pbass but no longer the 4003 unfortunately!
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I LOVE the sound of them on my Ric. Tons of meat, punch, and growl. For my tastes, these string pair better with my Ric, than any other i have tried. I have had TI's, rs 66's, rs 55's, GHS compression wound, chromes, D'Addario 1/2 wounds, DR lowriders...The cobalts are my favorite by far.

Good Luck!
 
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#446
I just finished playing a weekend long blues festival, with these on my jazz bass. I played both inside a club and on the outdoor stage, and even had a chance to listen to my bass played by another bassist. For reference, my previous strings were Dunlop super bright nickle rounds, which I really enjoy, but curiosity got the better of me.
I agree with the above- tons of meat, punch, and growl. They have some qualities of broken in rounds, but they also have that "focused fundamental" that has me addicted to flats. Really nice tight bottom. I thought they let more of the jazz basses personality come through than the last flats I put on it (DR's). I got an unusual amount of tone compliments. I like them so much on my jazz, I'm leaving 'em on for good. Definitely worth checking out.
 
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#448
I just played these strings again last night for about 2 hours at church and they are amazing. I can't believe I waited this long to try flatwound strings. I'm also digging the set of chromes I have on my other Ibanez Prestige bass but I believe the Cobalts are a little better tonally for me. Awesome strings.
 
#449
I like them on my fretless Jazz.

Although, when I run my hand up the strings there is a whistling noise. Its very weird. The pitch doesn't change as you move along. It stays constant.
I reminds me of rubbing your finger on the rim of a glass. Any one else notice that? I may shoot a short video of it.

Those gaps can also pinch your arm hair if you don't watch it.

I put them on a brand new neck. The process of working on the nut forced me to keep taking them off and on. The string tree frayed the purple wrap pretty good.

If you want to sound like James Jamerson, these aren't the strings. If you want round wound tone from a flat they are for you.
 
#450
I've had a chance to play these quite a bit so far and I disagree with the statement that they are roundwound tone in flats. They do give you a punchier, more aggressive tone for a flat. However the biggest difference for me is that they are more refined and the overtones that you get out of roundwounds is gone. For me it results in a much better tone that sits better in the mix than any string I've found so far. The B string on these for a 5 string bass is phenomenal also. Only question for me to be answered is how they last and sound once fully broken in. Can't beet them for the price, sound, and feel so far.
 
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#452
radmin said:
The weird noise..

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Hah! I discovered that noise and annoyed my wife with it for 2 days.

Aside from that, I love the EB Cobalt flats. A guitar tech that switched a set of pickups for me was complaining that he didn't get to try it with rounds but the sound is as close to rounds as you can get and still be a flat. Honestly, it's one of those "best of both worlds" sets.
 
#456
radmin said:
The weird noise..

Click to expand...


That is awesome!!!!! I have to figure out how to get that effect....

As for long term use: I am still thrilled with these strings. The new string tang is certainly gone, but they've still got the punch and focused tone I was looking for. I haven't had any strings break either, though my attack is less aggressive now than it was in years past.
 
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#458
PeaveyPlayer said:
Anyone else have that noise issue? Might put a pair on my fury p bass

And also is it easy to slide on?
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I have had these for close to month on my Ibanez Prestige 5er and no noise at all. I do alot of slides and such in my playing and except for the first couple hours playing they are a breeze to play and feel great. Out of the box they where a little sticky but that wore off quick.
 
#459
PeaveyPlayer said:
Anyone else have that noise issue? Might put a pair on my fury p bass

And also is it easy to slide on?
Click to expand...

I haven't experienced the noise and I play fretless, so sliding happens from time to time. They were a little grabby at first, they're not as smooth as the flats I was using before, but they're fine now. They just took some getting used to.
 

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