New type of guitar strings from EB: Cobalt

[MoJoe]

Has anyone here had any experience with these?

Snake oil?

Thoughts?

Ernie Ball Cobalt Guitar String Introduction - YouTube

Ernie Ball Cobalt Guitar String Introduction - YouTube

[BigAl]

Randy Jackson seems to swear by the cobalt bass strings they make.

[Kaicho8888]

Obviously, all subjective opinions! If it is better, we should be appraised of their test findings on harmonics generated (dB gain) and durability of strings.

I wonder if Ernie Ball manufactures their strings...Mapes Piano String in TN might still make strings for EB.

[MoJoe]

Originally Posted by BigAl

Randy Jackson seems to swear by the cobalt bass strings they make.

Yep, and some others too:

"Ernie Ball Cobalt Strings sound and feel better than anything I've ever played! You have to check these out!" - Slash

"Cobalt Strings feel incredibly silky under my fingers and deliver more punch, output, and clarity than normal strings!" - John Petrucci

"There's a certain degree of clarity and punch you get from Cobalt Strings that I haven't heard tonally from any other strings I've played." - Joe Bonamassa

"Ernie Ball Cobalt Bass Strings are the new standard! Bigger, better tone, sustain and volume. Finally a real innovation with strings." - Randy Jackson

"I can't believe how much low end I get out of Ernie Ball Cobalt Bass Strings. Also, the high end is super crisp, seemingly with more definition. Unbelievable." - Dave Larue


Well you know I'm going to check 'em out because I'm a sucker for testing new gear.

[5F6-A]

[BigAl]

I wouldn't mind giving 'em a shot. If they're cheaper than Elixirs, last long like Elixirs do and sound that much better, I'd buy 'em.

[LiquidIce]

do you think they would be harder on the frets metal?

[Thunder Dump]

Originally Posted by BigAl

I wouldn't mind giving 'em a shot. If they're cheaper than Elixirs, last long like Elixirs do and sound that much better, I'd buy 'em.

GC was selling these things for $10/pack for 10-46 gauge. That's twice as much as a regular pack of EBs. Pass.

[jfwund]

Originally Posted by LiquidIce

do you think they would be harder on the frets metal?

That's what I'm wondering. Isn't Cobalt harder than nickel? Given that the nickel strings seem to wear down frets, I'd imagine this would speed up your refret time...

Interesting idea though. I might have to try them on my Carvin w/ SS frets. I'd think that if Petrucci, Bonamassa, and Slash all say they're good, then they're at least worth a try. Assuming those guys know anything about tone, that is.

[foxtrot]

Originally Posted by Kaicho8888

Obviously, all subjective opinions! If it is better, we should be appraised of their test findings on harmonics generated (dB gain) and durability of strings.

I wonder if Ernie Ball manufactures their strings...Mapes Piano String in TN might still make strings for EB.

They say that their strings are made in Coachella.


I posted a thread about these cobalt strings a short while back. They do sound intriguing. The concern about cobalt possibly being harder on frets came up then too. Time will only tell on that one I guess, until either enough time passes to notice or until someone does a comparative test.

I love EB strings so I'm sure I'll try them out!

[Dougie]

Ernie Ball COnowthemostbackorderedguitarstringsinthehistoryof electricguitarBALT!

$10 strings, $1,000 zephyr pickups I can't wait until they invent $4,000 gold wrapped voice coil formers and $8,000 per set tungsten/platinum/gasified zirconium EL34s

[QuicksilverSS]

Why no sound clip?

[MoJoe]

"Buttery"

John Petrucci Play Tests The New Ernie Ball Cobalt Electric Guitar Strings - YouTube

John Petrucci Play Tests The New Ernie Ball Cobalt Electric Guitar Strings - YouTube

[5F6-A]

I miss a direct comparision. Same player, same guitar, same rig, same simple lick. Once played with reg strings and then with the new cobalt strings... i must admit that I "think" I can hear some extra clarity in the thicker strings but it could due to so many other factors...

[5F6-A]

From wikipedia>

ApplicationsThe main application of cobalt is as the metal in alloys.[40][41]

AlloysCobalt-based superalloys consume most of the produced cobalt.[40][41] The temperature stability of these alloys makes them suitable for use in turbine blades for gas turbines and jet aircraft engines, though nickel-based single crystal alloys surpass them in this regard.[47] Cobalt-based alloys are also corrosion and wear-resistant. This makes them useful in the medical field, where cobalt is often used (along with titanium) for orthopedic implants that do not wear down over time. The development of the wear-resistant cobalt alloys started in the first decade of the 19th century with the stellite alloys, which are cobalt-chromium alloys with varying tungsten and carbon content. The formation of chromium and tungsten carbides makes them very hard and wear resistant.[48] Special cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloys like Vitallium are used for prosthetic parts such as hip and knee replacements.[49] Cobalt alloys are also used for dental prosthetics, where they are useful to avoid allergies to nickel.[50] Some high speed steels also use cobalt to increase heat and wear-resistance. The special alloys of aluminium, nickel, cobalt and iron, known as Alnico, and of samarium and cobalt (samarium-cobalt magnet) are used in permanent magnets.[51] It is also alloyed with 95% platinum for jewelry purposes, yielding an alloy that is suitable for fine detailed casting and is also slightly magnetic.[52]

Can I hear Cobalt frets?

[Dolebludger]

From what I hear from Petrucci, these strings give a harsher tone than the pure nickel wrapped strings I have been using. But amp settings and and Petrucci's playing style could account for that. The strings may feel "buttery", but the tone was not "buttery" at all. I wonder how these strings work out for those or us who ant a less "in your face" tone?

[LiquidIce]

I made a comment to my wife many years ago that we still joke about today. I simply stated, at some point in time, there will be no more "new" toothbrushes that hit the market. I mean, how many different variations can you invent?

I feel sorta the same about strings. At some point, it will have have been done, and then people will only have the choice of the 1000 freaking strings that are already out there!

after awhile, it all becomes novelty...

[AngryHatter]

Cobalt is a ferromagnetic metal.
Date of Discovery: 1737
Discoverer: George Brandt
Name Origin: From the German word kobalt or kobold (evil spirit)
Uses: magnets, ceramics, special glasses
Obtained From: arsenic, oxygen, sulfur, cobaltine

[IndySouthPaw]

I play very aggressively (99% blues gigging) and have really developed touch sensitivity for tone and dynamics. I hate elixirs and coated strings because they almost feel slippery and I like a string to lock into my fingertip and not move I guess. If these things are buttery feeling or feel like elixirs then I am not interested. Also for many of us small bar jammers, we are in a constant battle to get good tone at reasonable volumes. I finally have my rig almost where I want it and these strings might launch the volume a bit too much so it would mean retaking everything. I hate when greg sounding stuff like this comes out because you almost have to try it but it can lead to a whole mess of tweaking

[Mookakian]

Ill have to try em i suppose, next order

[MoJoe]

I just got home with 2 sets of 10's. Gonna try them on my LP and Tele. Stay tuned...

[5F6-A]

excellent!!!!! keep us posted!!!

[larryguitar]

Originally Posted by LiquidIce

do you think they would be harder on the frets metal?

Well, the plain strings are STEEL, so it'll be harder to beat those for wear. The wound strings are either nickel or nickel plated steel, so I'm not sure if Cobalt could be worse.


Larry

[fritferret]

Originally Posted by Thunder Dump

GC was selling these things for $10/pack for 10-46 gauge. That's twice as much as a regular pack of EBs. Pass.

$10 a pack?! pass, indeed. i got a few packs free from a friend and eb endorsee. i didn't think they felt or sounded better than my normal dunlop strings. ymmv.

[tele52]

I put them on my RO, they're a bluish color, and rougher feeling. Don't look great on a historic. But they sure are powerful, I loved the sound when playing rock, these strings are for rock. The only way to describe the difference is it's like when I first tried Roto's on my JBass in 1971. They're powerful, aggressive, and I think they're cool. I doubt i'll keep them on my RO, but I'll put them on my BFG.

[LiquidIce]

I think companies should have deals and discounts when introducing a new line of strings. Coupons, B1G1...something.

[MoJoe]

I've had them on my Studio Deluxe for 2 days now and they sound very good.

Most of EB's claims seem to be accurate. More definition, very punchy and expressive and a noticeable difference in volume due to the cobalt windings on E, A and D strings. The plain strings - G, B and E are just plain steel strings apparently, with no cobalt in them.

However, I don't think I'll be buying these strings on a regular basis because I don't care for the feel of them. They feel a bit rough compared to the pure nickel strings I am used to.

[5F6-A]

for heavy rock they might be good but for my style I´d stick to all nickel Pyramids!