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Opinions on Ernie Ball Bass Strings...

#61
I use Cobalt flats on my fretless 5 string. They're pretty zingy and hot when you first put them on, but give them a few sessions to mellow out. They have a lot of dynamic range and feel very nice under my fingers. The midrange has tons of character and the treble retains some shimmer. The flatwound "thud" present on strings like Chromes is either significantly less pronounced or not present on the Cobalt flats, the open E was super growly when the set was fresh. Excited to see these in a few more months.
I totally recommend trying them.
 
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#62
PluckyThump said:
I like Slinkys very much, especially the 5-string set with the .130 B which is one of the best B-strings available IME. They sound good, they're inexpensive and you can get them at any music store. They are zingy at first but break in quickly. I get good life out of them but with my body chemistry I get long life out of most any string.
Click to expand...

Late to the party...

I just put the green pack with the .130 B string on my recently acquired 5'er. Having very little experience with 5 strings, I was a bit worried that the B string felt a bit too floppy. IDK how it compares to other brands, but I was certainly expecting the feel to be more stiff. However, after playing them for a few days I found that I really appreciate the flexibility in that low B string. It feels consistent with the rest of the strings, so I don't have to think about it while playing.

Curious if you're still using them.
- Shane
 
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#64
ComeHomeShane said:
Late to the party...

I just put the green pack with the .130 B string on my recently acquired 5'er. Having very little experience with 5 strings, I was a bit worried that the B string felt a bit too floppy. IDK how it compares to other brands, but I was certainly expecting the feel to be more stiff. However, after playing them for a few days I found that I really appreciate the flexibility in that low B string. It feels consistent with the rest of the strings, so I don't have to think about it while playing.

Curious if you're still using them.
- Shane
Click to expand...
Thank you for that review!
What gauges were you using before?

I've been using the 5 string Power Slinky (purple pack) set for a while now, but I'm thinking about going a set lighter.

I went to this gauge to get some low end out of the B string. I tried the stock Fender .125 when I got the bass. then I tried .130 and finally landed on the .135.

I just switched pickups to a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound which has lots of bass. I'm hoping this will allow me to switch to the lighter Regular (green pack) 5 string slinky set.

With the new pickup I can afford (and maybe could use) to let in a little brightness via the lighter gauge.

I know what you mean about the floppiness of the B, but my fingers might appreciate the lighter gauges, too. I'm playing a lot of Zeppelin on a 5 string bass. I can use all the help I can get!

To everyone, if I go from heavier to lighter, will I likely need to adjust the truss rod?
 
#65
Aaron Houts said:
Thank you for that review!
What gauges were you using before?

I've been using the 5 string Power Slinky (purple pack) set for a while now, but I'm thinking about going a set lighter.

I went to this gauge to get some low end out of the B string. I tried the stock Fender .125 when I got the bass. then I tried .130 and finally landed on the .135.

I just switched pickups to a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound which has lots of bass. I'm hoping this will allow me to switch to the lighter Regular (green pack) 5 string slinky set.

With the new pickup I can afford (and maybe could use) to let in a little brightness via the lighter gauge.

I know what you mean about the floppiness of the B, but my fingers might appreciate the lighter gauges, too. I'm playing a lot of Zeppelin on a 5 string bass. I can use all the help I can get!

To everyone, if I go from heavier to lighter, will I likely need to adjust the truss rod?
Click to expand...

What gauges was I using? Well this was my first time using my own 5 string, previously I was just using my friend's and I think he had heavy gauge elixirs (?).

Will you need to adjust the relief with the truss rod? More than likely.
 
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#68
Been using them for 2 years, I'll be changing up next time. EB power slinkys 55-110 for drop C. They last maybe 2 days before going dead. I put a set on for recording, did takes one day they were fine, next day... Dead. When I had my stingray set up they put a fresh set on for me, they were dead by the time I picked the bass up 2 days later. My jazz has a set of Cheapo no name strings I put on 18 months ago and they're still bright and snappy. EB slinkys suck.
 
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#69
I play a four string USA Fender Jazz. I put Super Slinky Cobalts on it about a year and a half ago. I dig in pretty deep playing, so I really enjoy the super slinky feel of the strings. I also like how they have mellowed over time. I wouldn't have pronounced them dead until now. I think the Cobalt G string finally will not project (cut through) like it did at first.

I'm about to switch to Slinky Nickel Wound strings and will report here later.
 
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#70
GIBrat51 said:
I haven't read the whole post, mainly because "Ernie Ball Strings" is a subject that comes up...fairly often. So, I imagine that, as usual, opinions range from "greatest string ever", through "kinda nice", to "Meh", down to "spawn of Satan". Just like every other brand of string, in fact... Where do I stand, re EB strings? I'm in the "Kinda nice" camp. I've only ever used the Hybrid and Super Slinkys. I put them on pretty much every new 34" scale bass I get, and use them as a starting point to find the "right" strings for that bass. And, sometimes, they are the right string for that bass. I like them because: they're inexpensive; I can get them anywhere; they last a good long while (for me); and they're very consistent, set-to-set. Never had a bad string, either. Other than Rickenbacker Light Nickel Rounds on my 4003, and GHS Boomers on my Gibson T-Bird and my Kramer Duke, EB's are the only rounds I use. But, I prefer Flats (usually La Bellas) and tapes on most of my basses...:whistle:
Click to expand...

Since I posted this, I've quit using rounds - with 2 exceptions - on my basses. The only strings I've found, that make my '94 Gretsch Broadkaster sound like a bass, are TI JR324 Jazz Rounds. The Hybrid Slinkys that it wore for a while (it's a very big short scale bass, and likes long scale strings) worked fine, and sounded OK - but, more like a baritone guitar than a bass. Flats? Let's not go there... The other bass - a MIK Rogue VB-100 - wears medium scale Roto TruBass88 Tapewounds. Partly because another left handed bass player has them on his violin bass, but mainly because they're the only strings I've tried on it, that tuned up - AND actually intonated - with no drama. Which is... well, not usually the norm for basses with trapeze tailpieces and floating bridges...
So, no Ernie Ball bass rounds on my basses. I do have a couple sets of EB Slinky Cobalt Flats, but no bass to put them on - without pulling a set of flats that I really like, off of something. And, honestly; I'm not a fan of flats that are that bright, anyway. TIJFs or Fender 9050Ls are about as bright as I care to go... I'll try them eventually, I suppose, but... for now? the only Ernie Ball strings I use, are Slinky guitar strings...:whistle:
 

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