Cobalt Strings

[some_dude]

I installed a set on my Les Paul yesterday. I couldn't find much on them beyond endorsees saying how great they were and the odd dead end thread with a couple of posts in it that never amounted to much, so I went in blind.

First impressions: Surprised at the grind. It feels like they're outputting more mids and producing a fairly meaty tone that's inducing the amp into a low mid grind, but I wouldn't call them bassy... just thicker all the way around. They're a lot warmer than I expected... figured I'd be getting some sort of super bright string and that's definitely not the case.

That said, it feels like I've traded increased thickness for reduced punch. Things are rounder and smoother but muted riffs aren't as percussive as they were with nickel plated steel.

At this stage I neither love nor hate them. I'm really liking them for lead but I'm finding rhythm a bit lacking.

I'm going to play them for two weeks then go back to NPS so I can compare going the other way.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I go back and forth between Regular Slinkys and Cobalt Slinkys–I like both.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I tried cobalts and liked them, but not for the price over Dunlops.

 

[gottalovethe80s]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I find them to give more output and mids than the normal slinkies. still rusts fast as hell though

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I find them to give more output and mids than the normal slinkies. still rusts fast as hell though

Have you tried wiping your strings down with WD40 after playing the guitar? Trick my dad taught me, makes my strings last a lot longer!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Cobalt Strings

Have you tried wiping your strings down with WD40 after playing the guitar? Trick my dad taught me, makes my strings last a lot longer!

I never wipe down my Dunlops and they never rust over. Ernie Balls rust in 30 seconds for me. The cobalts were a lot better about that though.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Cobalt Strings

After playing the Cobalts for a week I put normal nickel plated steels (Ernie Ball Regular Slinky) back on to compare.

First impressions... after getting used to the Cobalts the NPS sound scooped. The power (particularly on single notes) has definitely come down, there's an overall "thinness" to the top end, and in general I feel somewhat of a hollow vibe to my sound.

That said, the low end has tightened up and palm mutes are more defined and percussive. There seems to be less "bloat" in the midrange, which is enhancing the top and bottom end response without actually making things brighter or bassier.

Overall, I'm not sure what I think. I both like and dislike things about both strings and would love something that combines the best elements of both, but since that's not practical I'll have to settle on one or the other. At this stage it seems like NPS will be better for rhythm and Cobalt for lead. I'm going to rock these NPS strings for a week to get the feel again then switch back to Cobalt to see how I feel about them the second time around.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Cobalt Strings

It took me a long time to decide that I don't like them.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I'd like them to come up with a string with the cut of stainless and the mids of cobalt.

 

[Farkus]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I have been going through my rig and trying different things in terms of accessories (strings, cables, etc). I tried the Cobalts out again; I had tried them when they first came out and liked them so I tried them again last week and compared them to Cleartones, Thomastik-Infeld and titanium slinky strings. My impression is that they do sound different compared to a standard slinky and are just generally louder. My issue with them is that the lower strings shred...like they are easily deformed by the frets. Additionally there is something about their texture I don't care for as much. That is subjective of course. Out of all of these I liked the tone of the Thomastik-Infeld and titanium slinky strings the best. I'm probably going to go with the titanium slinky strings because they are easier buy locally and the Thomastik-Infeld strings feel...hard...or something. They feel like they have quite a bit more tension compared to the titanium of the same gauge. That may be in my head though. LOL.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I tried a set shortly after they came out and compared to my usual Dean Markley Blue Steel strings, they sounded brighter and I snapped them like twigs with my pick (I have a fairly hard pick attack and use really stiff picks).

And OP, if you haven't tried any, try out a set of Blue Steels. They're durable, stay bright longer than alot of other brands, and I think they will have the tone you're looking for. I've tried a bunch of different brands over the years, but these Blue Steels are the ones I keep coming back to. They're a mainstay for me.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Cobalt Strings

I never wipe down my Dunlops and they never rust over. Ernie Balls rust in 30 seconds for me. The cobalts were a lot better about that though.

Which Dunlops? I got a few sets of the Dunlop pure nickels to try and my fingers have never been so black. Even right out of the plastic sealed pack. They aren't bad sounding or feeling strings but they are nasty.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Cobalt Strings

The Cobalts were probably the worst thing I have tried in strings for years, from any brand, other than the M-Steels. I don't like the output, grind or brightness of either Cobalts or M Steels, but my skin also had some kind of reaction to the Cobalt...not to mention they have alot of finger drag.

I have actually moved backwards-I have gone back to Classic Slinkys. Wonderful clarity and thick midrange without harsh highs or extra grind/output. Since I use very low output pickups, I just wind 'em a turn or two higher. Works Aces for me. They don't last long, but I wipe 'em down and can usually get a week to 10 days or so before the wounds get so notched , cleaning is no longer going to help.

I think if I was into more modern styles or was playing metal exclusively, I'd be using the new NYXL Dads...they have a nice crunch and they are super stable from the moment you put 'em on.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Cobalt Strings

These string threads always make me wonder if Im missing something.. Ive used D'addario xls for years.. My LP is getting a set of Slinkys in the next couple of days tho.. I got a couple of free sets when I bought something awhile back.. these heavy the heavier bottom strings.. (sorry. didnt mean to derail)

 

[some_dude]

Re: Cobalt Strings

After playing the Cobalts for a week I put normal nickel plated steels (Ernie Ball Regular Slinky) back on to compare.

First impressions... after getting used to the Cobalts the NPS sound scooped. The power (particularly on single notes) has definitely come down, there's an overall "thinness" to the top end, and in general I feel somewhat of a hollow vibe to my sound.

That said, the low end has tightened up and palm mutes are more defined and percussive. There seems to be less "bloat" in the midrange, which is enhancing the top and bottom end response without actually making things brighter or bassier.

Overall, I'm not sure what I think. I both like and dislike things about both strings and would love something that combines the best elements of both, but since that's not practical I'll have to settle on one or the other. At this stage it seems like NPS will be better for rhythm and Cobalt for lead. I'm going to rock these NPS strings for a week to get the feel again then switch back to Cobalt to see how I feel about them the second time around.

After playing NPS for a week I won't be putting the Cobalts back on. NPS strings just sound right.

If I was a dedicated lead player I think I'd be all over the Cobalts, but I don't like what they do to my rhythm sound.