Anyone use Cobalt strings?

[Mailman1971]

Just picked up a pack. Been a Nickle user forever. 9's.
Trying something a little different. Doing 10's.....and the Ernie Ball Cobalts.
Yeah....I walk on the wild side.

Nah....just curious. If not digging them.....got a set of Nickle 9's in reserve.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Cobalt is toxic at relatively low levels. It was used in tattoo colors. Went badly for some people. This link mentions constant skin contact risks. I'm sure they tested for that, right?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB100...8046260406091012.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop



It does sound tempting. I just hate changing strings too.

 

[Mailman1971]

Well I have about 20 tats....so I am fucked already.
My cat is driving me crazy. Trying to attack the strings as I am winding them.
Polished the guitar and neck....cleaned the fretboard and the Floyd bridge.
Lots of crud gets in there during the summer playing.
Hope I gel with the heavier gauge.
2 strings down....4 to go.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I have a few square feet of coverage but none of the super brights. Just old school oriental stuff.

Gotta get a quick winder and little guitar rest, like a gun rest for rifle cleaning.

Isn't there a block to put under your Floyd before lowering the string tension to keep it close to normal position under tension?

 

[Mailman1971]

I used to use the block.....but after screwing with floyds forever....I can set them up pretty easy.
Yeah I got tons of oriental tats as well. 90 percent of my work was done when stationed in Japan by a Japanese artist.
Good stuff there.

 

[some dude]

My friend likes them for metal. Says they generate a lot of harmonics without being brighter than normal nickel plated steel. Also says they're brutal on the fingers until you get used to them so the step up to 10s might exaggerate this.

I haven't tried them myself. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Ventura]

I've got a lot of ink.

But I'm very interested in hearing what you think of these strings. I am certain the term "cobalt" is less to do with true raw cobalt, than it is some fancy marketing terminology used in conjunction with "something else" to make these strings - um - specialer.

Mojo

 

[Mailman1971]

Well my rig is in another building....so wont get a chance to plug it in tonite.
But have it all strung up and wow...they RING out pretty loud. Seems weird loud?
Maybe its the 10 gauge I am not used to.
I have high hopes for these ones.

I've got a lot of ink.

But I'm very interested in hearing what you think of these strings. I am certain the term "cobalt" is less to do with true raw cobalt, than it is some fancy marketing terminology used in conjunction with "something else" to make these strings - um - specialer.

Mojo

They are made by Ernie Ball.....never seen them before.
Give a feedback tomorrow after a good old fashioned jam session.

 

[SFW]

I had them on my Les Paul for a bit. I ended up going back to Elixirs. The Cobalts do sound different. I didn't care for them. You may love them. Me... Not so much. lol

 

[mentoneman]

currently have them on my tyler, and after a few weeks, miss the elixers ive been using for years now.

 

[btdvox]

What are the upsides to Cobalt?

 

[Zap]

What are the upsides to Cobalt?

Longevity. I can attest to that. They lasted longer than typical Slinkys, but I'm not sure if that warrants the difference in price.

 

[chumbucket]

What are the upsides to Cobalt?

Longevity. I can attest to that. They lasted longer than typical Slinkys, but I'm not sure if that warrants the difference in price.

Yeah, if you leave strings in a Floyd for a long period of time (like some of us do ) you'll notice that they sound live for a lot longer period of time. They also seem slinkier than say a conventional nickel or nickel plated set of .010's are. Easier to bend.

 

[PBGas]

What are the upsides to Cobalt?

Longevity. I can attest to that. They lasted longer than typical Slinkys, but I'm not sure if that warrants the difference in price.

Yeah, if you leave strings in a Floyd for a long period of time (like some of us do ) you'll notice that they sound live for a lot longer period of time. They also seem slinkier than say a conventional nickel or nickel plated set of .010's are. Easier to bend.

This is what I was hoping for. I've been using the Titaniums for the past couple of years and I like them. Have a couple of sets here that I'll run through in a bit to see how they go.

 

[leib10]

I tried them, and I didn't notice a difference significant enough to justify the higher price tag.

 

[midnightlaundry]

I just got a set. I don't like them. They have a gripy feeling like old crusty strings have; like a guitar you'd play off the wall of Guitar Center. And the tone had a scratchiness to it that isn't doing it for me.

I'll take a set of Nickel Wounds for the win.

 

[Shask]

I have not used the Cobalts, but I find it amazing that you play heavy stuff with 9's. I mean, I am all for lighter strings (unlike most), but 9's have a thinness and "tingy" sound to them that drives me crazy. I almost always use 10's because they sound chunkier on palm mutes, but are slinky enough to be bendy. I think you will notice a huge different in depth just from that alone...

 

[yngzaklynch]

Been using them for months. I like them. Just ordered more tonight actually

 

[syncrodude007]

Likey... 10's

 

[lettmusic]

..they RING out pretty loud. Seems weird loud?
Maybe its the 10 gauge I am not used to.
I have high hopes for these ones.

But I'm very interested in hearing what you think of these strings. I am certain the term "cobalt" is less to do with true raw cobalt, than it is some fancy marketing terminology used in conjunction with "something else" to make these strings - um - specialer.

I used them since they first came out. I was skeptical and did not believe all the hype. But after the first set went on one of my guitars, the verdict was clear. They are now on all of my electrics. Why? Here are some reasons:
1- Liked you said, they're significantly louder, more output. Just play it unpluged and you can automatically hear the difference.
2- They last a hell of a long time, longer than your standard nickel. I used to gig maybe 1 or 2 times and would have to change the nickel, or I would risk string breakage. I've done at least 3 gigs with these with no problem.
3- The clarity and brightness also seem to last longer.