• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

New EB Cobalt Flats?

Are we talking 20-30 years here?
Why don’t you record/average how many bends you perform on each respective fret per hour or so, how much downward force you exert so that I can get you a rough estimate. I also will need to know how many hours you average a week in regards to solid playing time.;)

Edit: We’ll need to know your specific brand and gauge too.
 
Last edited:
Why don’t you record/average how many bends you perform on each respective fret per hour or so, how much downward force you exert so that I can get you a rough estimate. I also will need to know how many hours you average a week in regards to solid playing time.;)

Edit: We’ll need to know your specific brand and gauge too.
Right lol! I think the question is amusing as even in my most intense phases of playing I don't wear out frets with rounds, let alone flats.
 
Right lol! I think the question is amusing as even in my most intense phases of playing I don't wear out frets with rounds, let alone flats.
You’ll end up getting buzz on your heavily played frets over time, but there is no way to know when that time will occur. If people are worried about it, set aside a dollar every week to pay for the eventual refret/dressing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassYerFaceoff
Even in Canada it's only $15 a fret to replace...on average. So after a few years you get your frets dressed. After a few years more see if they can be dressed again. If not...replace.
It's like the tires on your car. Rotate from time to time, and then replace when worn out.


Don’t tell my wife you can replace frets. I’m looking forward to that being my excuse to buy a new bass in the future:hyper:
 
So I put my set back on due to my TIs officially dying for good. I have to say that I’m really enjoying them this time around. I still feel like they’re a little imbalanced, but now I find that quality kind of endearing in a quirky sort of way.

The grippy feel did finally go away, but it took hours and hours of playing time. That was super annoying, but now that it’s gone and the strings have settled, they are real winners.
 
So I put my set back on due to my TIs officially dying for good. I have to say that I’m really enjoying them this time around. I still feel like they’re a little imbalanced, but now I find that quality kind of endearing in a quirky sort of way.

The grippy feel did finally go away, but it took hours and hours of playing time. That was super annoying, but now that it’s gone and the strings have settled, they are real winners.
1. How old were those TI's lol? They last for like 10 years.
2. I couldn't agree more. Once the Cobalts are broken in they are super stable and simply a delight to play. I like the tension and feel much more than the TI's and won't go back to the TI's I don't think.
 
Put the EB Cobalt flats on my Cutlass last night. I am blown away. These are exactly what I wanted in comparison to my favorite roundwounds the Pink (2834) Slinky's. Perfect amount of tension and flexibility without feeling like the noodley LaBella LTFs I tried previously. Feel nice and smooth, less string noise and a great smooth balanced tone. I did not find them any "stickier" than any other new set of flats.

They did seem to stretch and settle a little bit more than other strings. And I mean a tiny bit more. Heard a little clangy type sound when tightening up the D string. But after letting them settle over night they have found their permanent home on my Cutlass. Such good strings, wow!
 
1. How old were those TI's lol? They last for like 10 years.
2. I couldn't agree more. Once the Cobalts are broken in they are super stable and simply a delight to play. I like the tension and feel much more than the TI's and won't go back to the TI's I don't think.

1) Those TIs were 7 or 8 years old. One day I picked up my bass and the intonation was off. Like really off; I’m not a total intonation Nazi. I’d set the intonation, then come back a couple days later and it was totally gone again. It’s the first time I think I’ve ever had strings truly, actually die.

2) Nothing feels as good as TIs under the fingers to me, but these are nice after some time. Really no adjustment at all from the TIs (in the lightest gauge Cobalts).
 
  • Like
Reactions: maplenecked
1) Those TIs were 7 or 8 years old. One day I picked up my bass and the intonation was off. Like really off; I’m not a total intonation Nazi. I’d set the intonation, then come back a couple days later and it was totally gone again. It’s the first time I think I’ve ever had strings truly, actually die.

2) Nothing feels as good as TIs under the fingers to me, but these are nice after some time. Really no adjustment at all from the TIs (in the lightest gauge Cobalts).
I think I'm using the medium gauge cobalts,which feel more like medium guage rounds to me. Good balance of left and right hand tension, the TI's are too low on the right hand for my preference.
 
I had these on one of my 5s for roughly two years. In January, I noticed the B string wasn't itself - dull and dead. So' I've been looking at other strings to try. Long story short: I ordered another set. Since the EADG strings have life, I'll keep those for one of my 4s.

I had a set of Dunlop Super Brights on hand that I tried on a different bass, so I put them on in the interim. They don't sound as bad on this one as the other, but I had to EQ them significantly to make them work for me. They'll go back into storage once the new Cobalt Flats get here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: waynobass
Do these still have purple silks?
Yes.Purple Silk
Trying out my second set.
My first set went dead in a week. ( Very early production) we'll see, I love the rounds on some basses.
Gigged them last night, tuning settled in quick, had been using Dunlop flats lately on this bass (g&l l2500) and the intonation matched! Definitely a roudwound tone.
 
961B8679-F8AD-487F-9B47-161095D1CCEE.jpeg
19C0AA6F-59B6-4683-9D88-69711CC5BEE8.jpeg
New 55-110 Cobalts... new Hipshot... and I think I might need to order picks. These will turn a Tortex to dust in a hardcore band practice!
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassYerFaceoff

Latest posts