Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

[Jeffrec]

Just put a set of 10-46 on my '87 LP Custom. The guitar is fairly heavy (9+ lbs) and sounds great acoustically (loud, warm, and sustains real well). It's got an early set of Antiquities in it. Plugged in it kicks butt big time.

Cobalt review:
1. They initially feel different than regular Slinkys. It's an odd texture, but not as weird feeling as Elixers. This goes away after you play them for a little while. Their sound improves the longer you play them too.

2. I noticed better sustain, both acoustically and plugged in.

3. Notes seem to be clearer/articulate.

4. EB claims the Cobalts are louder, but I can't say I noticed a huge difference between them and the Regular Slinkys I've always used.

5. To my ears, they aren't any brighter sounding than Regular Slinkys, as some folks have said.

6. They stretched quicker than the Regulars, and held their tuning quicker too.

If they last longer than regular strings, and hold their tone in the process, then they're worth the $10, otherwise I'll go back to what I've been using.

I know this is a quick review, but I'll check back in after I've played them longer. At this point I like them a lot.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Just put a set of 10-46 on my '87 LP Custom. The guitar is fairly heavy (9+ lbs) and sounds great acoustically (loud, warm, and sustains real well). It's got an early set of Antiquities in it. Plugged in it kicks butt big time.

Cobalt review:
1. They initially feel different than regular Slinkys. It's an odd texture, but not as weird feeling as Elixers. This goes away after you play them for a little while. Their sound improves the longer you play them too.

2. I noticed better sustain, both acoustically and plugged in.

3. Notes seem to be clearer/articulate.

4. EB claims the Cobalts are louder, but I can't say I noticed a huge difference between them and the Regular Slinkys I've always used.

5. To my ears, they aren't any brighter sounding than Regular Slinkys, as some folks have said.

6. They stretched quicker than the Regulars, and held their tuning quicker too.

If they last longer than regular strings, and hold their tone in the process, then they're worth the $10, otherwise I'll go back to what I've been using.

I know this is a quick review, but I'll check back in after I've played them longer. At this point I like them a lot.

I have em on my blue strat and love em Jeff...They are everything you say and they last longer than the EB Rock N Roll and the D Addarios I normally use..They have a nice smooth feel that I Like on the E,A,and D strings..Will use them again also..My fairly recent review is very similar to your's.. ;o)

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

To know if the new strings were actually louder you would have to make sure everything was matched such as volume..etc.

I am trying a set the next string change, everybody seems to give them good marks across the board.

Thanx for your input.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

I have em on my blue strat and love em Jeff...They are everything you say and they last longer than the EB Rock N Roll and the D Addarios I normally use..They have a nice smooth feel that I Like on the E,A,and D strings..Will use them again also..My fairly recent review is very similar to your's.. ;o)

Your absolutely right about the feel of the E, A, & D strings John.

P.S. Your review was real helpful in getting me to try them. Thanks Buddy!

 

[jmh151]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

I have them an I love them, they bend easier, making it almost feel like I have stainless frets

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

I have them an I love them, they bend easier, making it almost feel like I have stainless frets

They did seem to bend easier, and my vibrato seemed to have more sustain too.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

You guys are killing me...now I want to go and get a couple of sets!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Your absolutely right about the feel of the E, A, & D strings John.

P.S. Your review was real helpful in getting me to try them. Thanks Buddy!

Oh ok awesome buddy! I was kinda on the fence about them,but I love them..Not sorry for buying/trying them out!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

You guys are killing me...now I want to go and get a couple of sets!

Just try out a set on your fav axe and see if you like em?

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Just try out a set on your fav axe and see if you like em?

Word!

I'm going to be switching to them for all my guitars.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Word!

I'm going to be switching to them for all my guitars.

Nice strings...a bit pricey though!

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Nice strings...a bit pricey though!

Your right, but if they hold up they'll be worth it in the long run. I'll keep playing the ones I just got for a while and then make a final decision. I figure if they last 3-times longer than the regular ones then they're worth the money, since they cost about 3-times as much (roughly).

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

My initial impression was something like this: "These strings feel terrible....is there sandpaper on them? WHOA! are they ever bright! Terrible......these are probably the worst strings I have ever used."

Followed by a few moments of contemplation with a set of wirecutters in my hand followed by the decision to give it a week.

Everyday for that week when I played my thoughts were along the lines of: "These strings feel terrible....I hate them." and/or "is this brightness ever going to go away?" and/or "these are probably the worst strings I have ever used."

In closing I think they were the worst strings I have ever used. I hate everything about them.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Designed to make bending the E,A & D easier? I've never had a problem manhandling those strings. They can't even hold Blue Steel's junk when it pees as far as longevity goes. I moved away from Ernie Ball when I was 15 and have never looked back.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Designed to make bending the E,A & D easier? I've never had a problem manhandling those strings. They can't even hold Blue Steel's junk when it pees as far as longevity goes. I moved away from Ernie Ball when I was 15 and have never looked back.

What does your age have to do with it?

Ernie Ball makes good strings, that roster list doesnt lie, I just hated the Cobalts

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

I had high hopes of you posting a review of "they grew on me"

I still liked how you dissed um.

I tried to like them but couldnt do it.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

What does your age have to do with it?

You can't figure it out brainiac?

Even a 15 year old can tell that there are better strings out there.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

Designed to make bending the E,A & D easier? .

We were referring to the G, B, and high E strings

 

[tonello]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

I just bought a set. I don't know if they're any good (I have yet to put them on), but if they're anything like the last set of EB's that I bought, they will break in about 2 days.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Brief Review of Ernie Ball Cobalts

I just tried them this weekend at a gig and was very impressed! If they can hold up well over time, I'll definitely switch. So far, so good but I need to spend some more time with them.