Thunderbird Club

[Miles_ONeal]

The cobalts are indeed grippier than the LaBellas. I’m not sure why. I just looked at both, and while both appear to have opened up under tension, the LaBellas feel like glass.

Freaky. I thought maybe because they are fairly new.

But not a hindrance to me.

Huh. Cobalt flats are the least grippy strings I have played.

 

[fasterpussycat]

I started life on SS Rotos at the end of the ‘70s. Loved everything about them for my Rick. I drifted away from those, but tried a couple sets more recently, and couldn’t replicate the magic from my memory.

THAT'S why you need the Ken Smiths.

 

[GonePlaid]

THAT'S why you need the Ken Smiths.

Nah, you need cobalt flats. I can say that-I'm 9,365 miles[15701 km]away from you.

 

[Dr_Feelgoood212]

Makes sense.
If you don't kink before you cut, the outer windings can relax and gap on you. That would indeed create a lot of very sharp edges. I haven't had that happen yet, even when using 34" Cobalt flats on a 32" bass, but I was concerned it could happen. Could also be that you got a defective set from the factory with loose windings.
Here's a pic of Cobalt flats on my Gibby Memphis...
View attachment 3468397

And here's a pic of Roto Swing flats on my Gibby SG...
View attachment 3468398
Both are Short Scale basses and the pics were taken at roughly the same angle with the same lighting. You can see how much smoother the Cobalts look vs the Rotos. Neither one is rough to the touch but the Cobalts feel much slicker.

Those rotos almost look like they’re ground wounds!

 

[Count Bassie]

Those rotos almost look like they’re ground wounds!

They are, I think.

 

[Goatrope]

Huh. Cobalt flats are the least grippy strings I have played.

My flats experience is limited, but compared to the LaBellas, Cobalts are more like paper than glass. Not sand paper, printer paper. The LaBellas are downright glassy.

 

[fasterpussycat]

Nah, you need cobalt flats. I can say that-I'm 9,365 miles[15701 km]away from you.

Cobalt flats to recapture the tone and feel of the RS66s of one's memory? The scary cat says 'no'.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

My flats experience is limited, but compared to the LaBellas, Cobalts are more like paper than glass. Not sand paper, printer paper. The LaBellas are downright glassy.

Maybe I'll try those when these wear out. Which I don't anticipate as happening soon. Which LaBellas, exactly?

 

[Goatrope]

Maybe I'll try those when these wear out. Which I don't anticipate as happening soon. Which LaBellas, exactly?

 

[PillO]

Makes sense.
If you don't kink before you cut, the outer windings can relax and gap on you. That would indeed create a lot of very sharp edges. I haven't had that happen yet, even when using 34" Cobalt flats on a 32" bass, but I was concerned it could happen. Could also be that you got a defective set from the factory with loose windings.
Here's a pic of Cobalt flats on my Gibby Memphis...
View attachment 3468397

And here's a pic of Roto Swing flats on my Gibby SG...
View attachment 3468398
Both are Short Scale basses and the pics were taken at roughly the same angle with the same lighting. You can see how much smoother the Cobalts look vs the Rotos. Neither one is rough to the touch but the Cobalts feel much slicker.

Makes sense. I didn't install the cobalt flats; it was done with the free set-up that L&M does on all instruments. I would hope that the pro doing it did it correctly. I know what many of you think of the "pros" at GC, but my experience with the techs (and all the staff) at L&M is almost universally excellent.

Between my experience with cobalt flats and the current experience with slinkys on the Bird, I think I am done with EB strings.

If I were to try flats again (which I judge to be very unlikely) I would do chromes or RS77.

 

[PillO]

@fasterpussycat

Did I miss a memo? Did the band name change? Is it no longer Pink Unicorn Glitter?

By the bandcamp link, it looks like We Are Devo U R Ed. First, I am not Ed, so am I not the intended audience? Second, I am not an expert in trademark law, but you should probably run that past a lawyer to make sure that you will not be in trouble with the original Devo.

 

[GBassNorth]

Those rotos almost look like they’re ground wounds!

The package for the strings says Flatwound Monel. They are Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 strings (RS77LD). Sound great on the SG Supreme with the tone knob rolled off, not so great on the Memphis or TBird. Not really a fan of Rotos but they work well on this bass and seem to be lasting a good long time.

 

[dagrev]

Do yourself a favor and steer clear of the Cobalt Rounds! They will eat your bass and your fingers alive! Super rough surface, nasty things.

Oooh. Good to know. I need a set of files...maybe the strings are cheaper than the files!

 

[BklynKen]

Makes sense. I didn't install the cobalt flats; it was done with the free set-up that L&M does on all instruments. I would hope that the pro doing it did it correctly. I know what many of you think of the "pros" at GC, but my experience with the techs (and all the staff) at L&M is almost universally excellent.

Between my experience with cobalt flats and the current experience with slinkys on the Bird, I think I am done with EB strings.

If I were to try flats again (which I judge to be very unlikely) I would do chromes or RS77.

As far as I know, that 90° crimp is only really recommended for round core strings.

 

[dagrev]

There are no stupid questions! But there are inquisitive idiots...

Yes, they were the cobalt flats. I tried them because of al the rave reviews. As near as I can work out, in tuning, the ribbons open ever so slightly and that caused the effect. I tried for several weeks but I always ended up with sore fingers (fretting and plucking hands). I replaced them with chromes and those were fine. But after trying those, I decided that I am not a flats player.

I can't help but wonder if you had a bad set. I've had about three sets over the years and still have one, and have never experienced anything near what you describe.

 

[fasterpussycat]

@fasterpussycat

Did I miss a memo? Did the band name change? Is it no longer Pink Unicorn Glitter?

By the bandcamp link, it looks like We Are Devo U R Ed. First, I am not Ed, so am I not the intended audience? Second, I am not an expert in trademark law, but you should probably run that past a lawyer to make sure that you will not be in trouble with the original Devo.

First, the name changed to DEVØURED weeks ago after we fired the first psycho drummer.

Second? Eh? The bandcamp link is wearedevoured = 'we are devoured'.

 

[dagrev]

Makes sense. I didn't install the cobalt flats; it was done with the free set-up that L&M does on all instruments. I would hope that the pro doing it did it correctly. I know what many of you think of the "pros" at GC, but my experience with the techs (and all the staff) at L&M is almost universally excellent.

Between my experience with cobalt flats and the current experience with slinkys on the Bird, I think I am done with EB strings.

If I were to try flats again (which I judge to be very unlikely) I would do chromes or RS77.

I found the Fender Flats to be similar to Chromes in some positive ways (I don't like Chromes and don't get the love other than they sound more like rounds, as much as a flat can). The Fenders seem to have some mids and thicker sound than the Chromes, which to me seem clanky, boomy and generally hollow where I want some punch. But that's only my experience.

 

[PillO]

First, the name changed to DEVØURED weeks ago after we fired the first psycho drummer.

Second? Eh? The bandcamp link is wearedevoured = 'we are devoured'.

I guess I went with too many spaces. Damned computers and their lack of spaces - leaves all of us guessing...

 

[fasterpussycat]

I guess I went with too many spaces. Damned computers and their lack of spaces - leaves all of us guessing...

It's mind bogglingly difficult to find a name some other bugger hasn't already snatched -- and not always for a band name. By asserting that we are [name] it's possible to have the same name on all 'platforms' -- ie the brain rot web 2.0 rubbish you need to promote yourself these days.

 

[Nocturnal]

It's mind bogglingly difficult to find a name some other bugger hasn't already snatched -- and not always for a band name. By asserting that we are [name] it's possible to have the same name on all 'platforms' -- ie the brain rot web 2.0 rubbish you need to promote yourself these days.

You are correct about how difficult it is to come up with a unique name that you would want to use that isn't already in use by at least one other band. We struggled with that in the trash/glam rock band and finally settled on one. Then the singer decided to go "solo" so everything stopped. Luckily his brain is so scrambled from drugs that he couldn't remember the name to steal it so I am keeping it in my back pocket.