Do these get warmer? Better? More detailed? They seem to be all highs — everything I hate about rounds — but flat.
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Slinky Flatwounds… kinda meh?
- Thread starter Just Wrong
- Start date
It usually takes time for flats to get to their best.
When I change the Fender flat strings on my bass as per my avatar on the left, it takes a few weeks to get the warm and fat sound I want.
When I change the Fender flat strings on my bass as per my avatar on the left, it takes a few weeks to get the warm and fat sound I want.
It took a long time for my Cobalt flats to break in. They're finally where I like them, but for a long time they were very clanky.
I could not get into them at all even after a month. Too much grind and clank. I prefer old Fatbeams or Sunbeams. I've been using D'addario tapes for thumpy stuff.
Not sure if they're the same string you're asking about, but I put a set of the EB cobalt flats on a passive Jazz in early 2019. I think it was the orange looking package, 45-105 set, if they're still the same. They're still on it.
They were very bright for flats at first and have definitely mellowed over time. I love the way they've settled in. They're very well balanced and have a nice bit of punch to them.
I don't recall exactly how long they took to mellow to where they are now, but they stayed pretty bright for a while—longer than most flats I've tried.
If you're looking for or prefer a daker/thumpier vibe from your flats, you might want to try something else. But if you want something more balanced, I'd say they're worth giving some time. They're not all that dissimilar to Fender's flats, IMO, which I also like very much and have on a few basses.
They were very bright for flats at first and have definitely mellowed over time. I love the way they've settled in. They're very well balanced and have a nice bit of punch to them.
I don't recall exactly how long they took to mellow to where they are now, but they stayed pretty bright for a while—longer than most flats I've tried.
If you're looking for or prefer a daker/thumpier vibe from your flats, you might want to try something else. But if you want something more balanced, I'd say they're worth giving some time. They're not all that dissimilar to Fender's flats, IMO, which I also like very much and have on a few basses.
They are designed to "sound like a roundwound with a feel of flatwound". If you hate the sound of rounds, try another flat.
- Sep 4, 2010
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I like them as a flatwound with a voice. I use GHS precision flats for old skool thud
For something warmer, Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats (aka "Group Flats") may be a better option. Warmer and smoother with a nice midrange without being too thumpy or thuddy.
Yes.
But like all strings, they're not always the right string for every bass.
They've been my favorite string since they came out, but I've recently become a TI convert on many basses - especially Js and my Stingray.
What Bass are you using them on?
As much as I like Cobalt Flats, they didn't work for me on my stingray.
I believe mine came with the Group IIIs.
I was ready to give up on that bass until I tried the a TI Jazz flats....
I've tried 3 times to like cobalt flats. No way, no how.
GHS precision flats are kinda the standard by which I judge flats. They are thumpy, yes, but not as much as LaBella 760 series. TI JF, little brighter, Fender 9050 more brighter. (9050L is probably what I use the most.)
GHS precision flats are kinda the standard by which I judge flats. They are thumpy, yes, but not as much as LaBella 760 series. TI JF, little brighter, Fender 9050 more brighter. (9050L is probably what I use the most.)
I've had a set on my Alembic for a few months now - I really like them. They're starting to mellow out a bit and I'm liking them even more. I'm kind of expecting that they'll last a long time and just keep getting better.
I'm 99% certain that my Epiphone Jack Casady Signature that I bought used had a well-aged set on when I got it (seller wasn't sure, but the purple silks and construction match the new ones I bought). They weren't the sound I had bought that bass for, but they were a really good sound. They no longer had that like-new zing, but didn't sound dead either.
I'd say - be patient with yours, play them a lot, work the EQ on your bass and amp. And oh yes, listen to your bass in the mix. Sometimes a sound that seems too trebly or mid-forward by itself is just what you need to be perceptible as more than just thump and rumble in a band setting
I'm 99% certain that my Epiphone Jack Casady Signature that I bought used had a well-aged set on when I got it (seller wasn't sure, but the purple silks and construction match the new ones I bought). They weren't the sound I had bought that bass for, but they were a really good sound. They no longer had that like-new zing, but didn't sound dead either.
I'd say - be patient with yours, play them a lot, work the EQ on your bass and amp. And oh yes, listen to your bass in the mix. Sometimes a sound that seems too trebly or mid-forward by itself is just what you need to be perceptible as more than just thump and rumble in a band setting
If you are talking about EB Cobalt flats, they retain some brightness for a really long time. My oldest set, which are probably 6 or 7 years old, still have some brightness. If you wanted old school thump sounding flats, EB Cobalts might not get there in a time frame you will be happy with, but they do start sounding like a more traditional flats in a few weeks when you roll the tone off close to 100%.
I assume they do. In 50+ years of playing flats, I never had a set that didn't. But, warmer; better; more detailed, IME, are all relative. I seriously doubt they're ever going to sound like a set of broken-in La Bella DTF's...
To be Honest? I've never tried them. I did have a set of each gauge they were offered in - at the time - but, since I'm not exactly a fan of rounds, or bright flats? ^This^ is what kept them off my basses. And when I finally did decide to try them - turns out, mine were not the real thing. Just clever counterfeits...
So... into the trash they went (minus their ball ends - I can always find a use for those). And, I decided that maybe I'd dodged a bullet - and that I wouldn't try that experiment again...
Sounded great with my Stingray Special right out of package an nothing like you describe also have heard demo's of plenty of good players getting great tone out of them with different type Basses and Styles
Do these get warmer? - Nope, she never sound warm, but juicy,
Better? - Better !?!?! smoother string surface than roundwound, but if you din't give it maintenance,she will get corrosion in just few weeks....
More detailed? - She sound bright without too much freshing zing ! I have a set on my bacchus jazz bass since 2019, she still sound clear , juicy and crisp , plus the E string still sound healthy and even tonal to the rest.
I also has a set on my Squier Pbass which has Dimarzio Model P inside ( along with 500k volume pot ), this Cobalt flat just open up the tone , aggressive and angry roar !
Another set on PJ bass.
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