Cobalt Slinkys (bad experience)

[Rush]

I've been playing a JP6 for 12 years and have owned several. My main is a 2002 model. I always use 10-46 reg. slinky. I NEVER break strings even through abuse of bends above the 17th fret. I've been playing on the same set for six months and only changed them out to try these new cobalt 10-46 slinkys. The old strings still stayed in tune perfectly after this long with lots of abuse.

I decided to try the new Cobalt Slinky 10-46 set. The first thing I notice is that the tone sounds different and not in a good way. Lots of twang sound. I immediately didn't care for the change in tone from the original slinkys. Next, after one day of light use, the high E breaks at the bridge. I inspected the bridge and there are no issues there. If there were, surely would have broken on my six month old set.

Has anyone else had an issue with these? Did i get a defective set? I bought these off Amazon. I'll now be going back to the original slinkys. I just hate that I wasted $8-10 and the time invested on this set.

 

[DrKev]

The plains strings are the same plain strings used in any slinky set. You can use spare from your normal set. Maybe you just got a bad one. It happens from time to time. And if a string breaks just after you put it on most stores will replace it. Amazon? I have no idea.

Tone? Well, that's your own personal preference. Of course comparing a fresh new set of Cobalts to a six month old set of standard slinkys is going to be a shock at first. Give 'em a little time? They do sound different - some people like them, some don't. Some people don't like standard slinkys either and prefer stainless, or classic nickel wrap, or another brand. You've tried Cobalts, you don't like 'em. That's how we find these things out. Now you know. It's all cool.

I know it's frustrating when things turn out this way but I think us guitar players have it pretty easy, all things considered. $8 every six months? Can't complain about that. When I was regularly gigging I'd go through 2 or 3 sets a week. A close buddy of mine is a double bass player. A set of his strings costs $150. That's what I call an expensive try out!

 

[Rush]

Thanks for the reply. I was referencing the sound of new slinkys, not my six month old ones. I must have gotten a bad string. The extra twang from the new set isn't something I've experienced with this guitar and regular slinkys before, so I thought it may just be a characteristic of the cobalt strings someone else may have noticed. Doesn't seem worth twice the cost of regular slinkys, but of course, mileage varies between players. Just thought I'd document the experience in case anyone else has the same issue.

The plains strings are the same plain strings used in any slinky set. You can use spare from your normal set. Maybe you just got a bad one. It happens from time to time. And if a string breaks just after you put it on most stores will replace it. Amazon? I have no idea.

Tone? Well, that's your own personal preference. Of course comparing a fresh new set of Cobalts to a six month old set of standard slinkys is going to be a shock at first. Give 'em a little time? They do sound different - some people like them, some don't. Some people don't like standard slinkys either and prefer stainless, or classic nickel wrap, or another brand. You've tried Cobalts, you don't like 'em. That's how we find these things out. Now you know. It's all cool.

I know it's frustrating when things turn out this way but I think us guitar players have it pretty easy, all things considered. $8 every six months? Can't complain about that. When I was regularly gigging I'd go through 2 or 3 sets a week. A close buddy of mine is a double bass player. A set of his strings costs $150. That's what I call an expensive try out!