Compared to LaBella DTF's you are correct. They have much more sustain than traditional flats.
IMO they sound more like flats when you use a pick. Great for classic rock tunes (especially ABB tunes). They really sound great on a fretless too!
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Roscoe Club
- Thread starter JOME77
- Start date
Compared to LaBella DTF's you are correct. They have much more sustain than traditional flats.
IMO they sound more like flats when you use a pick. Great for classic rock tunes (especially ABB tunes). They really sound great on a fretless too!
I have full sets of Cobalt flats on several of my basses. My Century 5 has TI flats on it while my SKB 6 has Cobalt flat B and E and TI A,D,G and C. So far, Ernie Ball is not making C strings for Cobalt flats. I hope they do make them in the future.
I've tried most of the flats made and the Cobalt and TI's are the best sounding to me. TI's are quite expensive but last for many years. Cobalt flats are more reasonably priced but there have been some reports of strings breaking. I have not had any Cobalt flats break.
I've tried most of the flats made and the Cobalt and TI's are the best sounding to me. TI's are quite expensive but last for many years. Cobalt flats are more reasonably priced but there have been some reports of strings breaking. I have not had any Cobalt flats break.
Probably why I like them so much!
I decided to try them on my Century 5 J/MM based on yours and Joe’s feedback. So happy I did! I have TI’s on other basses and they’re great, but I don’t think they’d be as good a fit on that bass as the Cobalts. I’ve not experience any issues with them either.
I've had several 4 and 5 sets of EB Cobalt Flats over the years, without any problems or breakage.
The initial high-end sheen mellows out after a few hours of playing.
Currently have a set (many years old now) on my CAR Sparkle (Marty Bell) LG 3005 - still sounds killer!
The initial high-end sheen mellows out after a few hours of playing.
Currently have a set (many years old now) on my CAR Sparkle (Marty Bell) LG 3005 - still sounds killer!
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It will be interesting to see how they age, they’ve only been out since around 2016? Most flats sound better over time. Wondering if it will be the same for these
How would you compare the B string on the cobalts vs the TIs?Probably why I like them so much!
I decided to try them on my Century 5 J/MM based on yours and Joe’s feedback. So happy I did! I have TI’s on other basses and they’re great, but I don’t think they’d be as good a fit on that bass as the Cobalts. I’ve not experience any issues with them either.
My experience has been mixed. The TI B string sounds great on my Century 5 but on my SKB 6 the B and E were sort of ???muddy or indistinct. I put Cobalt Flat E and B string on it and now it sounds great. I notice no difference in tone between the TI's and Cobalt flats in this mixed set.
I have an Ibanez 5 string with Cobalt flats on it and the B sounds great. I am not sure why the TI's sounded different on my SKB 6. Just one of those things, I guess.
The only 5 string I currently have TIs on is a fretless Spector SpectorCore and that’s such a different animal it wouldn’t make a valuable comparison. Generally speaking though, I do think the Cobalts are more lively than TIs with slightly more tension.
As @Stranger Danger stated .......
Just because (and these are new pics with the Pope pre)
And I'd encourage you other Roscoeheads to do the same.
Just because (and these are new pics with the Pope pre)
And I'd encourage you other Roscoeheads to do the same.
Just because:
Sometimes you hear about basses that come back home. In the early 2000s I owned this Roscoe. Burly flat top, active EMGs, passive tone, 3-piece neck MPM. IIRC it's called a 2005 and not many were made. Being broke I needed to sell it then but am yearning to have it back. If you recognize it or have seen it for sale give me a shout.
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Sometimes you hear about basses that come back home. In the early 2000s I owned this Roscoe. Burly flat top, active EMGs, passive tone, 3-piece neck MPM. IIRC it's called a 2005 and not many were made. Being broke I needed to sell it then but am yearning to have it back. If you recognize it or have seen it for sale give me a shout.
Beautiful bass!
Good luck finding it.
Those 2005’s with the EMG systems really sounded good. A different flavor of the Roscoe sound but still in the general neighborhood. Much warmer than I would have originally thought.
Great looking bass and I completely understand where you’re coming from. My first Roscoe was from that era - LG 2000 with active EMGs, passive tone control and Wilkinson bridge. It had the three piece neck and a fantastic fingerboard, but it did not have a fancy top. I found the current owner here on TB. He has since replaced the EMGs with Nordstrand Big Splits. I don’t regret the reasoning behind selling it, but would buy it back in a heartbeat. I have reached out to him and he has politely not responded to my soft pitch to buy it back. Apologies for the horrible picture.
My mid 90s fretless is a very similar green. Keith told me that he doesn't do them dark like that anymore. Love it!
My SKB is also a similar green. I’ve probably had it 15 years or more, and I got it used.
Looks like the Red Devil is on its way to a new home, Steve C has been pretty quiet lately 
