SPECTOR® Club - Part 28

[peledog]

I just installed a set of Cobalt Hybrid Slinky's: .045 .065 .085 .105 on my Forte w/ Haz Preamp

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]

Thanks Sam! I'm really liking the sound of the cobalts. More presence than the hi-beams.

All 5 Spectors are in the house!!
Pics to follow soon...gonna wait til the sun is back out...I think I have just about everything covered except for a 5'er...

Wow, can't wait to see pics!

 

[cjmodulus]

42

Cool, a hitchhiker's guide reference (deep thought ftw).

That sums it up.
The answer to life, the universe, and everything...

But how does one properly phrase the question? I guess we'll have to wait till the earth calculates it. Hopefully the vogons don't get to it first. lol

 

[FunkySpoo]

This might sound a little crazy, but the band I play with in the summer prides ourselves on not practicing. We played 2 summers ago (Had to skip last summer with my health issues) and we literally had a set list and showed up to the gig and played. Everything went perfect, we actually sounded really good. Now, I should say these guys are great musicians and when we show up, everyone REALLY KNOWS their stuff. There is no half ass knowing anything, it is CD perfect (Covers).

That is part of being a pro in my mind, there is nothing worse or that gets on my nerves more than when you show up at a practice and you know your stuff inside and out and someone says "Hmm, maybe we should listen to it". No, maybe you should have spent the time I did learning your part, to not to is disrespectful, like your time is more valuable than mine?

This is of coarse for covers...

My .02

Bam. That's what I'm talking about.

 

[Jaymi]

Good answer...this is one of the main reasons I don't play cover bands anymore...I realize that it is an easy way to get paid and that is what most are after but I know so many songs and I would rather explore new territory with others than play someone else's lines all the time....( no offense to anyone who plays covers, just had my fill)

 

[FunkySpoo]

Good answer...this is one of the main reasons I don't play cover bands anymore...I realize that it is an easy way to get paid and that is what most are after but I know so many songs and I would rather explore new territory with others than play someone else's lines all the time....( no offense to anyone who plays covers, just had my fill)

No offense taken here. Hell we don't even do it for the money. The place we play most often is in the neighborhood. We're all friends of the owner, he lives in the neighborhood to, heck we all live within a mile of each other, and we get paid in food. That's why I wanted to name the band "Will Play for Food" but we ended up as "Soulbox"

 

[Jaymi]

That's cool Rick

 

[GBassNorth]

I just installed a set of Cobalt...

Lima - this is EXACTLY what I was looking for, thanks so much for going to all the trouble of recording and posting this (you'd think string manufactures would want to do something like that to help sell their products, go figure). Anyway, thanks again and nice playing.
I've always been a DR Black Beauty fan but I have those on so many of my basses now I'm willing to go off in a totally new direction with the Spector and the Cobalts sound like just the ticket to do that.
I have a stock REX5 which is a 35" scale, does anyone know if the Cobalts will fit this particular bass from a length standpoint and if there will be any problems with the E string at 100 or the B string at 130 fitting the bridge or saddles (nut can always be reworked if needed)?
It also appears the 5 string set is a regular Slinky vs the Hybrid Slinky Lima tested. Is there any significant difference between the different Slinky types. Sorry for all the dumb questions but I have no experience with EB strings at all, I've always been a loyal DR and LaBella user.

 

[jarrod cunningham]

Lima - this is EXACTLY what I was looking for, thanks so much for going to all the trouble of recording and posting this (you'd think string manufactures would want to do something like that to help sell their products, go figure). Anyway, thanks again and nice playing.
I've always been a DR Black Beauty fan but I have those on so many of my basses now I'm willing to go off in a totally new direction with the Spector and the Cobalts sound like just the ticket to do that.
I have a stock REX5 which is a 35" scale, does anyone know if the Cobalts will fit this particular bass from a length standpoint and if there will be any problems with the E string at 100 or the B string at 130 fitting the bridge or saddles (nut can always be reworked if needed)?
It also appears the 5 string set is a regular Slinky vs the Hybrid Slinky Lima tested. Is there any significant difference between the different Slinky types. Sorry for all the dumb questions but I have no experience with EB strings at all, I've always been a loyal DR and LaBella user.

From experience the dr's feel tighter than the EB's on a Rex . Not sure on the gauges , but I had black beauty's and now have regular slinks an they move a little more

 

[stjohn1299]

Good answer...this is one of the main reasons I don't play cover bands anymore...I realize that it is an easy way to get paid and that is what most are after but I know so many songs and I would rather explore new territory with others than play someone else's lines all the time....( no offense to anyone who plays covers, just had my fill)

None taken here, man...my long-term goals with the cover band deal is to make sure the members gel well together, build a following, and make some dough to pay for a good PA and other equipment. From there I'd like to gravitate to writing originals...

 

[GBassNorth]

From experience the dr's feel tighter than the EB's on a Rex . Not sure on the gauges , but I had black beauty's and now have regular slinks an they move a little more

Jarrod - thanks for the info. Feel is as important to me as sound. From your note I'd assume the slinks to be an easier string for bends but they may run the risk of feeling a little floppy on the B string compared to the DRs. Is that correct?
I do like a very low action and the DRs have always allowed me to do that (been told Low Riders are one of the few strings with lower action, but don't know that for a fact) did you find the slinky strings require a little higher action than the DR BBs. Also, did you find slides smoother and quieter on the DR Black Beauty strings vs the Cobalts or are they about the same?

 

[e.rich]

Wow that was awesome to hear an A/B like that! It just seems like the Cobalt's have more presence and are.....like.....there.

I definitely heard more growl from the Cobalt's. Seems like they really had it in the upper mids over the Hi Beams. I totally agree with your assessment on the Cobalt's.

+1. I'm in for some Slinky goodness.

 

[grendle]

Those cobalts sound pretty good. Might have to try a set. Curious how long they last. Their bright but not zingy, might be a good or a bad thing.....

 

[jarrod cunningham]

Jarrod - thanks for the info. Feel is as important to me as sound. From your note I'd assume the slinks to be an easier string for bends but they may run the risk of feeling a little floppy on the B string compared to the DRs. Is that correct?
I do like a very low action and the DRs have always allowed me to do that (been told Low Riders are one of the few strings with lower action, but don't know that for a fact) did you find the slinky strings require a little higher action than the DR BBs. Also, did you find slides smoother and quieter on the DR Black Beauty strings vs the Cobalts or are they about the same?

Yeah bending will be smoother . The b on mine isn't floppy at all , but the dr's are tighter . And this is at half down .

 

[jarrod cunningham]

Spector Club Members,'
I am going to be posting these in the classifieds but wanted to throw them out here first in case anyone is planning any mods to their Spectors. I have a Hipshot M4(Schaller) bass Extender in gold and a EMG BTS System pre. both in excellent condition
PM me if any interest.
Thanks,
Brian

Pm'd , I'll take it !

 

[bunkaroo]

The real question on the Cobalts is do they fit 35" scale. I'd like to give these a go on one of my Euros. Can anyone think of a good way to tell if they'll fit without actually cutting it and winding it on the Spector?

 

[e.rich]

The real question on the Cobalts is do they fit 35" scale. I'd like to give these a go on one of my Euros. Can anyone think of a good way to tell if they'll fit without actually cutting it and winding it on the Spector?

Maybe just hang around here until someone else does it first?

 

[bunkaroo]

Maybe just hang around here until someone else does it first?

Heh. Well I probably won't have time to try mine until Saturday. Maybe someone else will!

 

[grendle]

Heh. Well I probably won't have time to try mine until Saturday. Maybe someone else will!

Call eb?

 

[bunkaroo]

Call eb?

No time unfortunately. Stupid work.

I've seen some evidence here on TB that guys have used Slinky's OK on 35" scale basses so I have hope. I have seen that EB sells super long strings but they don't seem very common so I'm guessing people that use those have longer than 35" scale basses or string-through bodies.

 

[Basstovsky]

No time unfortunately. Stupid work.

I've seen some evidence here on TB that guys have used Slinky's OK on 35" scale basses so I have hope. I have seen that EB sells super long strings but they don't seem very common so I'm guessing people that use those have longer than 35" scale basses or string-through bodies.

If it's any help, one of my first basses was string-through body, and Slinkys fit on it no problem.
It was a 5 string and the windings on the E and B strings were easily past the nut.

That said I promptly put the stock strings back on as they were completely boring sounding with no real 'character' to their sound IMO.