Ernie Ball 2814 Cobalt Flats - 45-100

[MungoBass]

I’m considering buying a set of these to get a brighter tone compared to other flats.
 

I just can’t get on with round wounds, the finger noise and feel don’t do it for me!

 

I have tried GHS pressure wounds and quite like those although the tension is a bit higher compared to my preferred flats from Dunlop and TI, both 100 gauge.

 

Does anyone have any experience of using the 2814 Ernie Balls? Is the sound closer to round wounds? What is the tension like? Are they silky smooth? 
 

Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!

 

Thank you.

[Ed_S]

I had the 2816 set (2814 with a 130 B string added) on a Fender Jazz V not too long ago and my personal experience was...

 

They aren't silky smooth (Galli Jazz Flats would be my benchmark for that) but they're also not rough; they're just kinda finely textured and uniformly grippy. If it makes any sense, they have the kind of texture than makes them 'sing' when you run your hands across them.

 

I found the tension to be similar to other comparable-gauge flats I've had (Fender, Chromes, EB Group) which I guess is to say they feel like playing the next-gauge-up set of rounds.

 

They do sound brighter and more like rounds than all other flats I've tried, and I personally liked the grippy feel of them so I'd happily get another set at some point in the future. I think the feel is what might put some other people off, though.

[ezbass]

On 21/03/2025 at 07:13, MungoBass said:

I’m considering buying a set of these to get a brighter tone compared to other flats.
 

I just can’t get on with round wounds, the finger noise and feel don’t do it for me!

The onlyother, non nylon coated, flats I’ve used are La Bella DTFs and the Cobalts are much more roundwound sounding to my ears. I initially bought a set for one of fretless basses to preserve the board and sound in the ball park as roundwounds on other basses. I liked them so much that they are now my go to string, whether fretted or fretless. They don’t have that top end zing of new roundwounds, but very much like old ones, with added benefit in that they take years to go off and, even then, they’re still very useable. With regard to feel, they’re smooth enough, but not overly glassy, finger noise won’t be an issue. They sound great with a pick too, nice and snarly with a bit of drive added.

[MungoBass]

On 22/03/2025 at 16:40, Ed_S said:

I had the 2816 set (2814 with a 130 B string added) on a Fender Jazz V not too long ago and my personal experience was...

 

They aren't silky smooth (Galli Jazz Flats would be my benchmark for that) but they're also not rough; they're just kinda finely textured and uniformly grippy. If it makes any sense, they have the kind of texture than makes them 'sing' when you run your hands across them.

 

I found the tension to be similar to other comparable-gauge flats I've had (Fender, Chromes, EB Group) which I guess is to say they feel like playing the next-gauge-up set of rounds.

 

They do sound brighter and more like rounds than all other flats I've tried, and I personally liked the grippy feel of them so I'd happily get another set at some point in the future. I think the feel is what might put some other people off, though.

Thanks very much for taking the time to provide this information. Hopefully I can live with the higher tension! 

 

[MungoBass]

23 hours ago, ezbass said:

The onlyother, non nylon coated, flats I’ve used are La Bella DTFs and the Cobalts are much more roundwound sounding to my ears. I initially bought a set for one of fretless basses to preserve the board and sound in the ball park as roundwounds on other basses. I liked them so much that they are now my go to string, whether fretted or fretless. They don’t have that top end zing of new roundwounds, but very much like old ones, with added benefit in that they take years to go off and, even then, they’re still very useable. With regard to feel, they’re smooth enough, but not overly glassy, finger noise won’t be an issue. They sound great with a pick too, nice and snarly with a bit of drive added.

Thanks for much for taking the time to share your thoughts - I will be ordering some!

[MungoBass]

On 22/03/2025 at 16:40, Ed_S said:

 

They aren't silky smooth (Galli Jazz Flats would be my benchmark for that)

I have a set of Galli Jazz Flats on a Precision - agree with you about them being silky smooth - they are super slick!

[fretmeister]

I’ve just installed a set of the shortscale ones on my Lionel and I’m really liking them. A lot less grabby than the La Bellas I had on, and a lot brighter. Cobalt is more magnetic than iron based stuff so the output seems quite a bit more.

 

Slaptastic with the tone up, and deep & plummy with the tone down. I have a 0.1uF capacitor on mine to get super deep when needed.

 

 

[MungoBass]

10 hours ago, fretmeister said:

I’ve just installed a set of the shortscale ones on my Lionel and I’m really liking them. A lot less grabby than the La Bellas I had on, and a lot brighter. Cobalt is more magnetic than iron based stuff so the output seems quite a bit more.

 

Slaptastic with the tone up, and deep & plummy with the tone down. I have a 0.1uF capacitor on mine to get super deep when needed.

 

 

Thank you. How does the tension compare to the La Bellas and are they similar gauges?

[fretmeister]

The La Bellas were the Low Tension Flats at 43-100 and I picked the Cobalts at 50-110 so not comparable at all.

I like the LTF on 34 scale basses but they are a bit too flexible on a shortie. I've had other 45-105 flats on it before including EB Group flats but I wanted a bit more tension. I like a really really low action so to avoid excessive clank I tend to use a higher tension string. I couldn't get the action with the LTFs quite as low as I wanted.

 

Based on the 50-110 shortscale ones if I buy a set for a 34 scale I'd have 45-105.

 

Hope that helps a bit!

[MungoBass]

10 hours ago, fretmeister said:

The La Bellas were the Low Tension Flats at 43-100 and I picked the Cobalts at 50-110 so not comparable at all.

I like the LTF on 34 scale basses but they are a bit too flexible on a shortie. I've had other 45-105 flats on it before including EB Group flats but I wanted a bit more tension. I like a really really low action so to avoid excessive clank I tend to use a higher tension string. I couldn't get the action with the LTFs quite as low as I wanted.

 

Based on the 50-110 shortscale ones if I buy a set for a 34 scale I'd have 45-105.

 

Hope that helps a bit!

Thank you!