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new EB COBALT srings
- Thread starter bassbo2112
- Start date
My Cobalts are on the way from Bass Strings Online! Can't wait to try them out. Jason will get you the best price, too 
Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop...
Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop...
mmbongo said:My Cobalts are on the way from Bass Strings Online! Can't wait to try them out. Jason will get you the best price, too
Welcome to Bass Strings Online - Your Custom Bass String Shop...
Mine too! Can't wait for em to get here!
I hear Jason has some limited stock still available!
i have an absolutely cherry Stingray4hh I just got, am putting on these tonight and will report back.
Dave
Dave
how did we end up with 2 threads on this LOL?
Anyway, so far I love them- I've been using ghs pressure wounds for a year or so, (easier on the fingers), but these will make me switch back to rounds. Tension was nice: much less than Chromes, but more than the regular Slinkies. Acoustically, a loud string- playing my new stingray unplugged, you hear every note well. Great sustain and harmonics. Hope they hold up, if so I'm a believer.
Dave
Anyway, so far I love them- I've been using ghs pressure wounds for a year or so, (easier on the fingers), but these will make me switch back to rounds. Tension was nice: much less than Chromes, but more than the regular Slinkies. Acoustically, a loud string- playing my new stingray unplugged, you hear every note well. Great sustain and harmonics. Hope they hold up, if so I'm a believer.
Dave
Posted this in the other thread. Posting it here in case people havent read it there.
So, I recently tried a set of cobalts out I got the 100-45 set. Played it last night and they sound very bright and poppy even after stretching them out a good deal. tonight I started working on my soloing for a song, and the core of the D and G strings both broke when I used my whammy bar. I was highly disappointed with this seeing as how its never happened with either the SIT strings I had on it before nor the GHS Bass Boomers that I regularly use. Maybe I got a bad set, or perhaps its a problem with the first batch but I know that they definitely shouldn't have broken on day 2 with bending that all of my other strings have been able to handle.
So, I recently tried a set of cobalts out I got the 100-45 set. Played it last night and they sound very bright and poppy even after stretching them out a good deal. tonight I started working on my soloing for a song, and the core of the D and G strings both broke when I used my whammy bar. I was highly disappointed with this seeing as how its never happened with either the SIT strings I had on it before nor the GHS Bass Boomers that I regularly use. Maybe I got a bad set, or perhaps its a problem with the first batch but I know that they definitely shouldn't have broken on day 2 with bending that all of my other strings have been able to handle.
Just put my Cobalts on my Spector NS 2A. Ummm, errr, ehhhh......
Are they loud? Hell yes. I had to redo all the gain structures on my amps. Do they sound good? Hell yes. They are loud and clear as a bell. They gave my Spector an extra bit of growl. I'm pretty damn impressed so far.
Are they loud? Hell yes. I had to redo all the gain structures on my amps. Do they sound good? Hell yes. They are loud and clear as a bell. They gave my Spector an extra bit of growl. I'm pretty damn impressed so far.
Took the Jazz to practice tonight. It was a complete success- the guys all commented on how great the bass sounded! I also had to adjust for the increased output of the Cobalts, by turning down the neck pickup bass trim on the Audere preamp. The tension is a bit higher than my usual favorite DR Sunbeams, but the sound is worth it. Or I'll just get a lighter gauge next time.
I just installed a set of Cobalt Hybrid Slinky's: .045 .065 .085 .105 on my Spector U.S.A Forte with a US Haz Preamp (EMG P/J Pickups)
For those who arent 100% familiar with Spector models this is basically a USA NS-2 without the inlays.
I have a Nickel Allergy so I have only used Stainless Steel strings over the past year. I have tried just about every Stainless Steel string around. I always settle back to DR HiBeams.
I confirmed with Ernie Ball that there was no Nickel in these strings so I ordered a set from Bassstringsonline.com (great price by the way)
Here are my initial feelings.
The Cobalts are crisp and bright.
The Cobalts have very clear low end.
The Cobalts have a bit less lower midrange (but it may just be less muddy)
The Cobalts have tons of sustain.
The Cobalts seemed to have a bit more output.
The Cobalt tension is bit tighter then HiBeams but not as tight as LoRiders.
The Cobalts feel really smooth and balanced.
If you are moving from Nickel to Cobalts they may take a while for you to get accustomed to.
Here are the sound clips for you to listen.
Everything was set identical for both the Cobalt and HiBeams recording.
DIRECT RECORDINGS
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp Direct into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%)
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts .045 .065 .085 .105
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp Direct into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%)
DR Hi Beams .045 .065 .085 .105 (still fairly new)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
GK MB200 w/2X10 Cab Mic'd
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp GK MB200 2x10 Cab Mic'd into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%) AMP set (Treble 12'oclock Bass 12'oclock, Lo-Mid 2'oclock Hi-Mid 2'oclock)
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts .045 .065 .085 .105
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp GK MB200 2x10 Cab Mic'd into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%) AMP set (Treble 12'oclock Bass 12'oclock, Lo-Mid 2'oclock Hi-Mid 2'oclock)
DR Hi Beams .045 .065 .085 .105 (still fairly new)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
For those who arent 100% familiar with Spector models this is basically a USA NS-2 without the inlays.
I have a Nickel Allergy so I have only used Stainless Steel strings over the past year. I have tried just about every Stainless Steel string around. I always settle back to DR HiBeams.
I confirmed with Ernie Ball that there was no Nickel in these strings so I ordered a set from Bassstringsonline.com (great price by the way)
Here are my initial feelings.
The Cobalts are crisp and bright.
The Cobalts have very clear low end.
The Cobalts have a bit less lower midrange (but it may just be less muddy)
The Cobalts have tons of sustain.
The Cobalts seemed to have a bit more output.
The Cobalt tension is bit tighter then HiBeams but not as tight as LoRiders.
The Cobalts feel really smooth and balanced.
If you are moving from Nickel to Cobalts they may take a while for you to get accustomed to.
Here are the sound clips for you to listen.
Everything was set identical for both the Cobalt and HiBeams recording.
DIRECT RECORDINGS
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp Direct into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%)
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts .045 .065 .085 .105
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp Direct into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%)
DR Hi Beams .045 .065 .085 .105 (still fairly new)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
GK MB200 w/2X10 Cab Mic'd
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp GK MB200 2x10 Cab Mic'd into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%) AMP set (Treble 12'oclock Bass 12'oclock, Lo-Mid 2'oclock Hi-Mid 2'oclock)
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalts .045 .065 .085 .105
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Spector USA Forte w/ Haz Preamp GK MB200 2x10 Cab Mic'd into Protools no EQ. (Bass at 70% Treble at 50%) AMP set (Treble 12'oclock Bass 12'oclock, Lo-Mid 2'oclock Hi-Mid 2'oclock)
DR Hi Beams .045 .065 .085 .105 (still fairly new)
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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The mids and make it stand out for sure.....which is what I am finding out as well. I planned to do the same thing as you but with prosteels (record both).....haven't beat these cobalts enough yet though to make them lose any zing. I'm still working at it though. They still sound great and hope they remain that way for some time yet.......EB might have me sold.
Thanks for the sound clips!! The Cobalts do sound a little crisper to my ear. Not to be greedy
, if you have some time and are interested/don't mind, care to throw an EQ on it and tell us if you see any visual differences (which might give some insight on the lack of mud/clarity). With all the positive reviews, I'm gonna have to try them at this point, but waiting for my new build.
Thanks again.
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They might sound good on a different bass, but I didn't care for them on my MusicMan Bongo. Maybe I'm so used to the Ernie Balls Nickel. The Colbalts sounded a little more on the stainless steel side, but not as bright. Tension felt the same. But, my bass wasn't jumping out as it does with the Slinkeys. Different metal strings (Colbalt) on a different metal pickup (Neodymium). Nickel strings sounds the best (to my ears) on my Bongo and other MusicMan basses. That's just me.
Can anyone offer a comparison between these and the regular EB Super Slinkies? That's what I've been using for a while, and I really like 'em, but since the price range is the same and the reviews are positive, I might consider switching. I'm just curious if there's a big difference between Cobalts and regular Slinkies.
Here is a comparison of the Cobalts to EB Steel Slinkys
Ernie Ball Steel Slinkys
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Ernie Ball Cobalts
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Last edited by a moderator:
