New EB Cobalt Flats?

[jd56hawk]

Just to add another quick review of these distinctly different new strings for those who might still be curious. I have only one bass, a humble Squier Jazz, and in my band it has to cover a range of 60s/70s music, from early Elton John and Harry Chapin to Steely Dan and Traffic to Santana, Stones, and Tull. For the last few months I have been using Fender 45-100 flats, which I like a lot for their full, clearish (for flats), and meaty sound, but sometimes wished they had a little more bite on E and A strings, so was willing to give the 45-100 Cobalt flats a try. Here are first impressions.

Quirks: None. They string up like any other string, give off no funny smells, make no weird sounds, and do not make your fingers turn strange colours.
Feel: Definitely less smooth than Fenders and all other flats I have tried (most of them), but still easy to slide and shift on, and plucking fingers actually appreciate the extra touch of "grabbiness" they have.
Tension/stiffness: Slightly lower tension than the Fenders and very slightly more flexible, but still considerably tighter and stiffer than TIs.
Sound: Reasonably well balanced across the spectrum; distinctly brighter and a little more articulate than Fenders, esp. on E and A, and all other flats; a bit less "meat" and "heaviness" and bit more bite or "spankiness."

Overall, I like them. The jury is still out, but I will try them out at next rehearsal and maybe at next gig later this month.

They string up like any other string?

 

[the low one]

Just seen this video and in the comments they say he's using EB flats. But if you follow the second link in the description you get more details on the bass with lots of photos, and the strings look like Chromes to me, mainly because of the coloured string ends which are Chromes coloured. Do EB flats use the same colours?

Nice tone on the video though, whatever the strings.

 

[Bassworship1]

EB Flats are Purple.

 

[the low one]

EB Flats are Purple.

Thanks, so it looks like they are Chromes then

 

[Gorn]

They look purple to me.

 

[the low one]

They look purple to me.

I see what you mean, but I was referring to the different coloured ball ends rather than the silk windings

 

[Gorn]

I see what you mean, but I was referring to the different coloured ball ends rather than the silk windings

I can't get a good look at them. Are they multicolored?

 

[the low one]

I can't get a good look at them. Are they multicolored?

If you click on the second link in the video description you see a lot of close up photos.

The link is: Invalid Link Removed

 

[Gorn]

If you click on the second link in the video description you see a lot of close up photos.

Weird. They must be chromes then but the silks look purple to me. Maybe it's the lighting.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Or.....maybe they're Fender flats and in Japan they have purple/blue silks rather than green? I know the Jaco bass comes stock with Fender flats here.

 

[Marial]

They don't look like EBs to me, especially with those ball ends.

 

[Bassworship1]

Those are to smooth to be EB and the ball ends are not difrfrent colors.

 

[raul]

i love them like a peanut butter sangwich

 

[jwilson67]

Those are to smooth to be EB and the ball ends are not difrfrent colors.

Those are definitely Chromes.

 

[bassobrutto]

They string up like any other string?

I had no problem stringing them up normally, and it seems most others also had no problem.

 

[jd56hawk]

I just have to wonder about this.

The breakage issue, too, and if they're related.

 

[crucislancer]

I just have to wonder about this.

The breakage issue, too, and if they're related.

I used this method to wind them, no issues at all. You’ll have to search the thread to see how the people who reported breakage winded these strings.

 

[HaphAsSard]

Any insight from users of regular, non-cobalt EB flats?

 

[jd56hawk]

Thanks, guys.
I've been checking this thread and I've found people claiming strings broke using the recommended method and the usual method...so I have to wonder which one is best.
I would really like to try a set and see if they're as good as the new LaBella gold tapewounds, but I'd sure hate to break a string...never broke one before.
I've also come across a pic that showed a gap between windings yet a few pages later saw another pic and the strings looked like regular flats...minimal or no gap. Of course, the one may be due to the extreme close up.

Hey, this past year or so I've bought 5 sets of "new" 40-year-old flatwounds at $15 a set...maybe I should try these.

 

[sonojono]

I hear these EB flats break easily which is kinda putting me off on EB in general. Any thoughts or stories on this?

 

[Bassworship1]

I've had 2 different basses string with these and no issues at all.