Ernie Ball Cobalt Strings

[Musicman20]

I wouldn't mind trying these. New for NAMM 2012.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxyW5osj2IE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAU1n1HM5oA

[LukeFRC]

so we did have conflict diamonds- and now we have conflict guitar strings? what next is sterling ball singlehandedly going to go knocking down rain forests to get the best wood? or just enslave mexicans to build them?

[dave_bass5]

Might give them ago if they [color=black]arent[/color] too expensive. The second video looks good in [color=black]3D[/color] :-)

Edited March 28, 2012 by dave_bass5

[paul_5]

Erm, isn't cobalt a bit dangerous?

[dave_bass5]

Only if you slap it ;-)

I hope its not dangerous as im sure i had some in ear heaphones that used it

[andydye]

Isn't it all over those fancy Fender pickups, the Samarium-Cobalt ones?

[Beer of the Bass]

I am impressed by the level of marketing bullshit and pseudo-science twaddle in the first video!

[dave_bass5]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1327057235' post='1505697']
I am impressed by the level of marketing bullshit and pseudo-science twaddle in the first video!
[/quote]
What, you mean you dont believe its "better"? He sounded so convincing to me. If Sterling says its better you know its better.

[Beer of the Bass]

I think it's the scientist in me; whenever I see a "graph" with no scale, I tend to ignore whatever I'm being sold. The strings actually might be OK, but their marketing seriously underestimates the intelligence of the viewers.

[dave_bass5]

Totally agree with you. I also find when someone tells me this is a new break through, better than anytihng thats gone before it etc etc i tend to switch off.

[dave_bass5]

I just noticed Soundslive have these on pre order. At £44 i think ill give them a miss for now

[url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Ernie-Ball-Cobalt-Hybrid-Slinky-Bass-Guitar-Strings-2733~ID~16964.asp"]http://www.soundsliv...33~ID~16964.asp[/url]

[Kev]

So has anyone tried these? I like the sound of them, but then again i dont think anyone is going to get an idea of what they are like until they go for some, unless someone puts up a video of a string comparison... £40 is a little steep unless they are worth it!

[dave_bass5]

There are some guys using them on the forum that we shall not speak of ;-)

[url="http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/52750-cobalts-real.html"]http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/52750-cobalts-real.html[/url]

[markstuk]

Along with Conflict jet engines and Conflict prosthetics :-) You've a better than even chance your cobalt did not come from the Congo though....

And Cobalt is part of Alnico pickups as well..

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1327007390' post='1505242']
so we did have conflict diamonds- and now we have conflict guitar strings? what next is sterling ball singlehandedly going to go knocking down rain forests to get the best wood? or just enslave mexicans to build them?
[/quote]

[Muzz]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1332839722' post='1593670']
There are some guys using them on the forum that we shall not speak of ;-)

[url="http://forums.ernieball.com/music-man-basses/52750-cobalts-real.html"]http://forums.ernieb...balts-real.html[/url]
[/quote]

Hey, everyone one there likes them - they must be great!

[dave_bass5]

LOl, i was thinking the same but check this out

[url="http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-ball-strings/52884-wades-experience-cobalt-strings.html"]http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-ball-strings/52884-wades-experience-cobalt-strings.html[/url]

Post #2
"Wade welcome You are the first negative review we have read....Sorry they didnt work for you....we cant make them fast enough..." Guess who posted that ;-)

[charic]

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1332842974' post='1593734']
LOl, i was thinking the same but check this out

[url="http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-ball-strings/52884-wades-experience-cobalt-strings.html"]http://forums.ernieb...lt-strings.html[/url]

Post #2
"Wade welcome You are the first negative review we have read....Sorry they didnt work for you....we cant make them fast enough..." Guess who posted that ;-)
[/quote]

Carol Vorderman?

[Prime_BASS]

I actually wanted to give these ago but wanted to hold out till I actually heard them, now that the RJ vid is there, they sound exactly like brand new regular slinkies.

I think I'll stick with me DR Hi-Beams. They are just better, #js.

[Kev]

On Talkbass, someone has granted my wish and done a sound comparison between these strings and some DR Highbeams...

[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/new-eb-cobalt-srings-859835/index4.html"]http://www.talkbass....835/index4.html[/url]

Off that, i think i will by a set, the midrange character sounds superb and i think they will sound fantastic on my Warwick

Edited March 27, 2012 by Kev

[drTStingray]

I have a set of Cobalts on my Bongo 5HHp - I'm very impressed. They're louder, have more mids and aren't as zingy as brand new rounds normally are. I used the Bongo with these in a gig and the tone really was impressive. Not much slapping experience with them but some interesting tones seem to be available.

I have DR Marcus Miller signature on my Musicman Stingray 5H - I was very impressed with these and they really livened the bass up for me - but the Cobalts really sound quite different from these - OK they're on a multi pick up Bongo so not a straight comparison - I can only say I'm impressed and will probably try some on a single pick up Musicman.

[WalMan]

Well the soundclips sound somewhat brighter. Going by my other thread on holding levels in check adding a set of strings with higher output is not going to help me achieve my aim. Probably try a set on the Classic J if I can find some. Pricewise they seem a tad more expensive than the Elixirs I normally use. String life will also be an issue in that event

[drTStingray]

They're not as bright and zingy as other new roundwounds I've used. The guys who've been using the prototypes for a while have reported that they last very well so may possibly be comparable with Elixirs in that respect.

I was told by Strings and Things they should have them generally available mid April - I was very lucky to 'acquire' my 5 string set, which I put on my Bongo. I haven't recorded with them on yet (other than a You Tube vid with a band).

[dave_bass5]

I almost got a set last week. I had them in my basket (Soundslive) but I read one or two posts about them not lasting more than a couple of gigs. This put me off as I thought they were going to be like Elixirs, but maybe that's not the norm.

Edited April 3, 2012 by dave_bass5

[brensabre79]

Will they last any longer than regular strings?
I will gladly pay more for a set of strings that doesn't go dead after 4 hours, so far the only ones I've found are the Ritter ones and they are extremely difficult to obtain.

[dave_bass5]

Im happy to pay £40 if they do last longer than average. I guess only time will tell. ill wait for a few more reports to come in.