ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

[rammer69]

anyone using them ? IS THE TENSION MORE OR LESS than the regular slinkys ? my buddy has a music store, says they are briter & stiffer, my other buddy that builds guitars, says they are easier to bend=not as stiff as slinkys, says he is putting the on all of his builds here is his website lothsonguitars.com

 

[Ball&Chain]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

Easy way to find out.

 

[RobSoundtrack]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I would be curious to find out.
If the tension-to-gauge ratio goes out the window, it could get interesting.

I do alot of downtune stuff, where i would like a tighter low stringset, but not thicker
Also do alot of 7 string stuff, where i would like a thicker string, but not tighter.

Could be win either way

 

[alteredbeast]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

a friend of mine bought a set and was raaaaaaaaaaving about em. has me curious now too.

 

[jmh151]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I have a few sets and love them, they are just alot easier to play, pretty much feels like a rubber band. I don't think I'll need stainless frets with cobalt strings to get easier bending

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I have a few sets and love them, they are just alot easier to play, pretty much feels like a rubber band. I don't think I'll need stainless frets with cobalt strings to get easier bending

Alot of us were wondering how the frets will wear under the cobolt? EB guys wouldn't touch my question on this! I Like the warmer tone of pure nickel anyway...

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

Alot of us were wondering how the frets will wear under the cobolt? EB guys wouldn't touch my question on this! I Like the warmer tone of pure nickel anyway...

I'm with you John on the pure nickel strings. Always have loved their tone. However, I'll probably try at least one set of cobalts and see.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I'm with you John on the pure nickel strings. Always have loved their tone. However, I'll probably try at least one set of cobalts and see.

I Love the EB Rock N Roll strings...Just haven't felt the need to try the cobolts at $10 a pack...

 

[jmh151]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

Alot of us were wondering how the frets will wear under the cobolt? EB guys wouldn't touch my question on this! I Like the warmer tone of pure nickel anyway...

Well I tend to use Dunlop string conditioner/cleaner (#65) on my strings anyway after I play them- it leaves a little bit of lube behind, making it alot easier to play. IMO- if guns and cars run on metal on metal friction and need oil to run, a little of this #65 on your strings may be a good thing to prevent premature wear on both the strings and frets

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

Well I tend to use Dunlop string conditioner/cleaner (#65) on my strings anyway after I play them- it leaves a little bit of lube behind, making it alot easier to play. IMO- if guns and cars run on metal on metal friction and need oil to run, a little of this #65 on your strings may be a good thing to prevent premature wear on both the strings and frets

Maybe? You cobalt users will have to let us know how the frets hold up..I like wiping the strings often,but I don't like using chemicals on the strings..

 

[buckethead]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I don't have a clue about colbalts, but a t 10.00 a set im in no hurry to try them out. That being said i watched you tube vidz with random joe's and they're not really putting them through the ringer. most of the vids are of intermediate skill at best so in noy way can i make an informed decision about them. also the Ernie ball you tube channel have , slash, Paul Gilbert, Steve vai etc etc but no real before and after. Dont get me wrong life long Ernie ball user , but i haven't heard and extra 5 dollars of difference time how many guitars i own to warrant a transition.

 

[JeffB]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

Well I tend to use Dunlop string conditioner/cleaner (#65) on my strings anyway after I play them- it leaves a little bit of lube behind, making it alot easier to play. IMO- if guns and cars run on metal on metal friction and need oil to run, a little of this #65 on your strings may be a good thing to prevent premature wear on both the strings and frets

Tangenttial to the EB cobalts, but...

I have had a bottle of this string conditioner..sitting around for 5..6...years. maybe longer. Came in a kit that I really no longer use except for the fretboard cleaner/conditioner. A week or so ago, I noticed a grimy feel on my high E on my strat. Usually I change strings before that ever happens, but Im using some GHS boomers on my strat that are lasting much longer than any other string usually does for me...

Anyhoo, gave them a rub of this conditioner stuff and was amazed. Not just the cleaning part, but the feel of the string afterwards. It was like giving them a muscle relaxer. I tried the string conditioner on my Daddario EXPs on my Tele the other day, and same freaking thing. And its not loosey goosey in a bad way..they feel great.

Not sure if it harms the strings long term, but I plan to keep using it until I find out.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread...EB COBALTs

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

They're okay, they just don't make them or GC doesn't carry them in the gauges I want. Nonetheless I took one for the team and use lighter gauges just to find out. 11-48 Cobalts on my telecaster, and 10-52 on a LTD Floyd Rose equipped guitar. My review for you guys:

How long they last: The wound strings, they last forever IME. The unwound, they take a while to die, and when they die, they DIE. They just become so corroded and rusty that it isn't fun to play on, but the tone is still there. Sound seems to always be there while the feel, not so much for the unwound strings. In short, they last a bit longer than other strings. When they get too gunky, I just boil them.

Sound: BRIGHT. Brighter than D'Addario ProSteels bright, or Dean Markley Blue Steels bright. There is a lot of upper mids, treble, and presence, but the bass is still at least there. Bright, but still somewhat balanced. It also does get picked up very well (maximum output marketing is true) and has a very clear and sparkling sound. The biggest difference in sound is the cleans, which become very crisp.

Availability: If you buy online, ignore. In my local GuitarCenters (including the one in Hollywood), they only carry 8-38, 9-42, 9-46, 10-46, 10-52, 11-48. No 11-54 or 12-56, which you'd have to buy online.

Overall: I'd say they're good strings. For some people, they'll be worth the price, but the only way to tell is to try them out yourself. An improvement to me over the regular slinkies, which I used to use exclusively, until I switched to D'Addario.

Now before a D'Addario vs. Ernie Ball was (I've actually seen one happen), I used to hate using D'Addario because their G strings never felt right to me lol. I loved the tone and life, but the feel wasn't there for that one string. Fixed the problem with a wound G and now that is what I use.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

Not impressed. The 10 Cobalts I got are stiffer to work than regular 10's.
I couldnt notice a huge difference in tone.

 

[superpete]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I've used them. They definitely have a different sound and feel. Very bright sounding, sort of a weird feel, kinda gritty almost? I didn't like them, but I can see why others would. Definitely worth trying out to see if they are for you.

 

[orpheo]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I gave them a go and I hate them. They do not work for me. the feel is too stiff for me in one direction and too supple in the other. Difficult to explain. Just not my thing.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I Posted about the Cobalts last week...Got no responses,so deleted my post...I Like them!

 

[jmh151]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I just put a set on my EBMM Axis, which had D'Aaddrios on it from the recent refret and setup. Not only is the guitar a bit louder acoustically, but it's alot more resonant now, you can feel each note through the entire guitar, as if it was an acoustic. Sound wise it's a bit more clearer, slightly brighter, more sustain. Feel again is different, but most brands feel different than each other

 

[Myaccount876]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

Yeah the feel is different. It took me a while to notice, but I don't really like the 'worn in' feel the strings have, I always prefer new strings that I use to restring about every 1 - 2 weeks. Also because I love the process of restringing guitars and basses in general.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: ERNIE BALL COBALT STRINGS

I have tried them, left them on for about a week....but that week was painful. They felt odd and had a super harsh strident tone that was horrible.