Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt

[TRENCHLORD]

Originally Posted by Webmaestro

An Ernie Ball rep just replied to an inquiry I sent regarding the possibility of 7/8-string Cobalt sets. Here is his reply:

"There are no plans as of yet to make a 7 or 8 string set. These are new strings, so, we want to see what kind of response we get before developing sets we receive a lower demand for. Singles should be available towards the end of April. You should be able to customize your own sets by then."

So, it looks like we'll have singles available in just a few weeks!

So he really didn't say how big the singles would go up to?
I also wonder if they'll offer the singles in all of the smaller stuff as well, like the more oddball sizes of 20w, 30w, 40w ect..
Anyways, I like buying seperate singles better anyways .

[Webmaestro]

Originally Posted by TRENCHLORD

So he really didn't say how big the singles would go up to?
I also wonder if they'll offer the singles in all of the smaller stuff as well, like the more oddball sizes of 20w, 30w, 40w ect..
Anyways, I like buying seperate singles better anyways .

He didn't, which is why I wrote him back with that very question. I'll repost here with his response

[Webmaestro]

Update...

Reply from Ernie Ball regarding individual string gauges:

"They haven't given us word yet as to what gauges they will keep on the selves. I would try contacting us towards the end of April for more updates."

Oh well, I tried!

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

To the people that have tried them, do they feel any tighter or looser than normal strings of the same gauge?

Originally Posted by Webmaestro

An Ernie Ball rep just replied to an inquiry I sent regarding the possibility of 7/8-string Cobalt sets. Here is his reply:

"There are no plans as of yet to make a 7 or 8 string set. These are new strings, so, we want to see what kind of response we get before developing sets we receive a lower demand for. Singles should be available towards the end of April. You should be able to customize your own sets by then."

So, it looks like we'll have singles available in just a few weeks!

Fantastic!

[chrisharbin]

Originally Posted by dragonblade629

To the people that have tried them, do they feel any tighter or looser than normal strings of the same gauge?

Tighter, but not in a bad way. Hard to describe but certainly not looser.

[Blake1970]

I think all pick up a set and try them.

[Blake1970]

I like them! They feel and sound amazing.

[ghostred7]

When I took my guitar in to get the neck polished and a set-up, I had these put on. I love them. Definitely getting a more "presence" than the standards of the same kind (slinky top/heavy bottom). It's not a great difference...but its there. The feel of them is great IMO.

[Jzbass25]

I like them a lot, I want my 7 to have them now...

[AcousticMinja]

They're very nice. I've had a set on my guitar for about 3 weeks and they're all still as bright as they were when I first put them on..
I'd say they're worth the $9.99 lasts about as long as 2 sets of EB strings anyway.

I'd really like to try a set in a lower tuning. They are, like people, said, bright and have lots of low end. If they do release singles (in heavier gauges) I'd love to make a custom set for maybe A# or something. Might make a muddy-ish sounding guitar a lot more bright.

[chrisharbin]

So I put some on the 1421 and it's really dicey. I actually like them less on the hardtail. Stiff, weird, maybe it's just a bad set but like the GHS boomers on that guitar better.

Still jammin' on the 1420 with the edge pro and my new 1520 with the edge pro though No need to change yet at all

[Jzbass25]

I didn't notice them being stiff at all.

[chrisharbin]

Originally Posted by Jzbass25

I didn't notice them being stiff at all.

On the hardtail only here. I'm just LOVING them on the two edge pros.

Yeah, I have no clue why they are not jivin' on the hardtail, they are basically the samish ibbys......

[Jzbass25]

Originally Posted by chrisharbin

On the hardtail only here. I'm just LOVING them on the two edge pros.

Yeah, I have no clue why they are not jivin' on the hardtail, they are basically the samish ibbys......

Ah I see, I have them only on an original edge'd jem and it feels like butter , I almost want to go with a heavy bottom gauge now. But I'll say again... I want 7 string sets sooooo much!

[Augminished]

Has anyone tried these on bass?

I talked to a bass player that says he tried them and didn't like them but I want a second opinion.

[Jzbass25]

I would imagine they may actually get muddy on a bass but I haven't tried them on my bass at all.

[Augminished]

Originally Posted by Jzbass25

I would imagine they may actually get muddy on a bass but I haven't tried them on my bass at all.

He said the opposite in fact

To much presence, way more punch (not his type of thing) and not much low end.

[Hemi-Powered Drone]

Originally Posted by chrisharbin

Tighter, but not in a bad way. Hard to describe but certainly not looser.

Originally Posted by chrisharbin

Stiff, weird, maybe it's just a bad set but like the GHS boomers on that guitar better.

Good signs to me, I love my strings tight as hell! Can't wait till singles are available so I can get a set.

Originally Posted by Augminished

He said the opposite in fact

To much presence, way more punch (not his type of thing) and not much low end.

Sounds like they would be good for lead bass playing, then?

[Jzbass25]

^ About the lead bass playing, I could see Sheehan using them haha

[Augminished]

Originally Posted by dragonblade629

Sounds like they would be good for lead bass playing, then?

I would guess. Also for slapping it would make sense. It seems like they would work well for metal bass players in general.

I did not try the bass he had them on and this is all assuming he knows what the hell he is talking about

[CDT_R053]

Originally Posted by AcousticMinja

They're very nice. I've had a set on my guitar for about 3 weeks and they're all still as bright as they were when I first put them on..
I'd say they're worth the $9.99 lasts about as long as 2 sets of EB strings anyway.

I'd really like to try a set in a lower tuning. They are, like people, said, bright and have lots of low end. If they do release singles (in heavier gauges) I'd love to make a custom set for maybe A# or something. Might make a muddy-ish sounding guitar a lot more bright.

I've got my PRS SE Custom 24 in Drop A# with the .11-.48 Cobalts and Dimarzio D-activators and it sounds amazing. Compared to my elixirs, the cobalt strings give a lot more clarity and punch for the lower notes. Definitely won't go back to normal strings.

[SirMyghin]

I am liking them, waiting to see what the lifespan is like.

They feel very soft, and slinkier than normal strings, but are higher tension than the EB coated (as my floyd rose with putting them on). Enjoying them a lot thus far, very nice sounding strings. A 56 single would be a great release.

[FrancescoFiligoi]

Brandon Ellis, touring guitarist for Arsis and Sylosis, has posted a DI comparison between the EB Cobalt set and other brands (D'Addario, Elixir, Dean Markley) on Sneap forum.

The DI tracks and playing are of very high quality and you can clearly notice how BAD the Cobalts are.

From the test, Cobalts have very weird attack, too harsh, lack of low end, while the best are surely D'Addarios and Elixirs, D'Addarios being a tad better with faster attack and somewhat a more "juicy flow".

I don't care about how Cobalts feel good or sound good acoustically, if the recorded sound is not on par, they're not worth it imho.

[SirMyghin]

And have you conducted these tests with a sample size greater than 1? Elixirs in my experience are dull strings. Never could bring myself to like the sound they gave.

As far as DI tracks go, they aren't worth much as you are removing what amps do with that signal. It is not exactly common to use a DI guitar track to be used directly.

I'll probably be doing some recording in the next few weeks at home, so I'll chime in then with any experience on the matter.

[EtherealEntity]

You can tell a lot from DI's - afterall, it's the raw sound of the instrument which is important.
Just checked them out, dry, and through my rhythm plugins. Pretty shocked how different strings can sound, actually! I thought the D'addarios sounded best by far - the Markleys and Elixirs were pretty similar but much edgier and less bass. The Cobalts had the least bass of all and just sounded weak to me.
However, it is of course just one test.