Dangerbird
New member
Having commissioned the now legendary Paul Reed Smith to build me a five-string bass back in 1977, I’m no stranger to this configuration of the instrument. However, before a few months ago, it’d been almost twenty years since I’d purchased one of the current generation of five-string instruments. A lot has changed – in particular, the availability of a wide array of string sets specifically designed and gauged for five-string basses.
Back in August 2024, I took possession of my first “new” instrument, a used 2015 Fender Mexican-made Jazz Bass V, wanting to discover what improvements this new generation of basses has to offer. Of course, nobody buys a new bass without buying a couple sets of strings; so, I had the bass strung with Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound strings, 50-135 gauge. I really enjoyed the feel and the sound of the instrument! Then after about two months, the preamp suddenly failed; back to the store (and guitar tech) we go! While ambling around the Guitar Center store this time (waiting to speak with the guitar tech), I picked-up a set of the Cobalt series strings, thinking that I might as well jump into 21st century improvements with both feet! My plan was to try them on the new bass once it got well.
As it turned out, the instrument had been incorrectly modified by its previous owner, wired in such a way that the battery was always on, excessively biased, and consequently, the preamp burned out. Thus, with a new preamp on order, I decided to put the set of Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 45-130 gauge strings on a bass I don’t particularly like, and don’t play much, to use while my new bass was in rehab. I was blown away by the feel and sound of these strings! Even though I still don’t like that particular instrument (the sound is great, but the look and overall feel of the instrument don’t really work for me), the difference the Cobalt strings made was significant.
So impressed was I with the sound of the Cobalt strings that I ordered three (3) more sets of 45-130 gauge strings from Amazon. When they arrived a few days later, I put a set on my go-to bass, a 40+ year-old PRS five-string fretless, and again I was bowled over by the fresh new sounds that began to emanate from this instrument. Needless to say, I was chomping at the bit to get my new bass back from the tech so I could try these strings on it as well.
I waited a week after getting my rehabbed “new” Fender Jazz Bass V back from the tech, fresh with a new set 50-135 gauge strings and a John East preamp, before finding myself unable to resist the urge to install a set of the Cobalt strings on this bass too. Now we get to the disappointing part of this tale...
As I began to install the low-B string (130) on the new bass, I heard a crack midway after the second complete wrap of the string around the tuner. Continuing to turn the knob, the string began to unravel. Apparently the core of the string broke at the tuning post as I was installing it on the bass. Fortunately I had another set from which I could scavenge the low-B string and just keep things moving. Same thing happened! There I sat having broken the B-string from two new sets of strings. I decided to go ahead and install the rest of the set of Cobalts, with no further unraveling incident, while using a thick E-string from an old set of strings as a temporary substitute for the broken B-string, in an attempt to maintain some sort of balanced tension across the neck until I could figure out my next move.
A few days later, I ordered from Amazon one more set of the Cobalt 45-130 gauge strings and two sets of the Cobalt 50-135 gauge. When they arrived, I guardedly pulled the 130 string from the pack and began to install it on the bass. After a few twists, I heard that now all-too-familiar snap, and then watched as the B-string from yet a third set continued to unravel. I removed the complete set of 45-130 gauge strings from the bass and then strung it with one of the 50-135 gauge sets. These strings installed with no incident. The sound is amazing. But, my faith in Ernie Ball’s quality control is shaken. I’ve gone through three sets of strings that were unusable, at a cost of $31/set!
To make matters worse, moments before joining this forum, I sent an abbreviated version of this tale to Ernie Ball customer support (Contact), along with an offer to return the two sets of unused Cobalt 45-130 gauge strings (of course, minus the snapped 130-gauge strings) in trade for two sets of Cobalt 50-135 strings (at least they survived the installation process), and after more than a week I have yet to get a response of any kind.
I’ve been playing and stringing basses for almost fifty years and I’ve never experienced such consistent failure with a product. Love the sound! Can’t afford the inconsistent quality.
So shaken is my faith in the product that I was moved to share this tale.
Back in August 2024, I took possession of my first “new” instrument, a used 2015 Fender Mexican-made Jazz Bass V, wanting to discover what improvements this new generation of basses has to offer. Of course, nobody buys a new bass without buying a couple sets of strings; so, I had the bass strung with Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound strings, 50-135 gauge. I really enjoyed the feel and the sound of the instrument! Then after about two months, the preamp suddenly failed; back to the store (and guitar tech) we go! While ambling around the Guitar Center store this time (waiting to speak with the guitar tech), I picked-up a set of the Cobalt series strings, thinking that I might as well jump into 21st century improvements with both feet! My plan was to try them on the new bass once it got well.
As it turned out, the instrument had been incorrectly modified by its previous owner, wired in such a way that the battery was always on, excessively biased, and consequently, the preamp burned out. Thus, with a new preamp on order, I decided to put the set of Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 45-130 gauge strings on a bass I don’t particularly like, and don’t play much, to use while my new bass was in rehab. I was blown away by the feel and sound of these strings! Even though I still don’t like that particular instrument (the sound is great, but the look and overall feel of the instrument don’t really work for me), the difference the Cobalt strings made was significant.
So impressed was I with the sound of the Cobalt strings that I ordered three (3) more sets of 45-130 gauge strings from Amazon. When they arrived a few days later, I put a set on my go-to bass, a 40+ year-old PRS five-string fretless, and again I was bowled over by the fresh new sounds that began to emanate from this instrument. Needless to say, I was chomping at the bit to get my new bass back from the tech so I could try these strings on it as well.
I waited a week after getting my rehabbed “new” Fender Jazz Bass V back from the tech, fresh with a new set 50-135 gauge strings and a John East preamp, before finding myself unable to resist the urge to install a set of the Cobalt strings on this bass too. Now we get to the disappointing part of this tale...
As I began to install the low-B string (130) on the new bass, I heard a crack midway after the second complete wrap of the string around the tuner. Continuing to turn the knob, the string began to unravel. Apparently the core of the string broke at the tuning post as I was installing it on the bass. Fortunately I had another set from which I could scavenge the low-B string and just keep things moving. Same thing happened! There I sat having broken the B-string from two new sets of strings. I decided to go ahead and install the rest of the set of Cobalts, with no further unraveling incident, while using a thick E-string from an old set of strings as a temporary substitute for the broken B-string, in an attempt to maintain some sort of balanced tension across the neck until I could figure out my next move.
A few days later, I ordered from Amazon one more set of the Cobalt 45-130 gauge strings and two sets of the Cobalt 50-135 gauge. When they arrived, I guardedly pulled the 130 string from the pack and began to install it on the bass. After a few twists, I heard that now all-too-familiar snap, and then watched as the B-string from yet a third set continued to unravel. I removed the complete set of 45-130 gauge strings from the bass and then strung it with one of the 50-135 gauge sets. These strings installed with no incident. The sound is amazing. But, my faith in Ernie Ball’s quality control is shaken. I’ve gone through three sets of strings that were unusable, at a cost of $31/set!
To make matters worse, moments before joining this forum, I sent an abbreviated version of this tale to Ernie Ball customer support (Contact), along with an offer to return the two sets of unused Cobalt 45-130 gauge strings (of course, minus the snapped 130-gauge strings) in trade for two sets of Cobalt 50-135 strings (at least they survived the installation process), and after more than a week I have yet to get a response of any kind.
I’ve been playing and stringing basses for almost fifty years and I’ve never experienced such consistent failure with a product. Love the sound! Can’t afford the inconsistent quality.
So shaken is my faith in the product that I was moved to share this tale.
