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Bongo 2026 Collection

Put some EB Cobalt Flats on my Cutlass last night

S

soulbass

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2018
Messages
9
Put the EB Cobalt flats on my Cutlass last night. I am blown away. These are exactly what I wanted in comparison to my favorite roundwounds the Pink (2834) Slinky's. Perfect amount of tension and flexibility without feeling like the noodley LaBella LTFs I tried previously. Feel nice and smooth, less string noise and a great smooth balanced tone. I did not find them any "stickier" than any other new set of flats.

They did seem to stretch and settle a little bit more than other strings. And I mean a tiny bit more. Heard a little clangy type sound when tightening up the D string. But after letting them settle over night they have found their permanent home on my Cutlass. Such good strings, wow!
 
Kudos to Brian Ball for Cobalts!

I told him a while back, "You changed my string life."

Then I said: "Yes, yes, I have a string life."
 
Orderd 3 more sets today after spending some more time with them. That will cover all of my basses, consider me holistically converted to the cobalt flats. They're so good.
 
Just ordered a set of Cobalt Flats, 105-50 regulars. They are not destined for either of my StingRays so I’ll just shut up:o
But.... the bass they are destined for I’m pretty sure they will compliment it well
(Coated Steels on both the StingRay’s btw. Bit of a contrast but that’s what I’m hoping for)
 
MaxKlein40 said:
How is the tone difference between your pinks and the flats? Have been considering doing this to cut down on some string noise but I dont want to kill the growl.
Click to expand...

They sound like pinks with less string noise to me. More than I could have asked for. Super happy, give them a try!
 
soulbass said:
Super happy, give them a try!
Click to expand...

Definitely will, my Ray has always had some fret buzz when I put the action where I like it so I've always kept it with high action. Do the flats help cut down on fret buzz at all? I'm going to slap some on my Ray and if it still has enough punch and growl I'll probably keep it flat since they feel sooooo good even if it doesn't reduce fret buzz.
 
MaxKlein40 said:
Definitely will, my Ray has always had some fret buzz when I put the action where I like it so I've always kept it with high action. Do the flats help cut down on fret buzz at all? I'm going to slap some on my Ray and if it still has enough punch and growl I'll probably keep it flat since they feel sooooo good even if it doesn't reduce fret buzz.
Click to expand...

Looks like you need a truss rod adjustment.
 
bovinehost said:
Kudos to Brian Ball for Cobalts!
Click to expand...

I will second that !
I put them on my “other” bass a couple of weeks ago, only playing it at In house volume and was a bit ???? With them
Then took it to band practice, got a chance to wind it up and wow !!!! Impressed to say the least so thank you.

(Only thing I would change is I’d ask for a bit more winding. Fitted to a through body, four in a row there is only just enough on the post. I generally like a good three wraps. Cutting non off its 1 and half)
 
`

1+1/2 winds is fully sufficient. OK, you would prefer 3,
but that would be at the expense of many of the rest of
us ... who know enuf to NOT allow the main winding to
wrap onto the peg.
 
Last edited:
Golem said:
`

1+1/2 winds is fully sufficient. OK, you would prefer 3,
but that would be at the expense of many of the rest of
us ... who know enuf to NOT allow the main winding to
wrap onto the peg.
Click to expand...

Who said anything about the main winding of the string on the post ?
And 1+1/2 is not enuf makes me a little uneasy especially with silks....
 
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`

danny-79 said:
Who said anything about the main winding of the
string on the post ?

.............
Click to expand...

You did.

You said you wanted longer windings. This results
in the winding bending around the peg.

Perhaps all you want is a longer leader.

BTW, plenty of basses ship brand new with "only"
1+1/2 turns wound onto the pegs. This is acoarst
in addition to the amount of leader stuffed down
into the center hole. It's fully secure.
 
Last edited:
Golem said:
Perhaps all you want is a longer leader.
Click to expand...

Yup ! The scale length of the string is fine, just say 2inchs more leader (the run off part that goes around the post) would make all the difference on a four in a row headstock on the last string. The nameless bass in question did used to have very thick straight posts on it until I swapped them for tapered ones. All these little bits, through body stringing, four in a row posts, thick posts etc all add up. Couple of inches more leader would be very useful
 
`

If the bridge is both thru and whatchacall "not-thru" ?
I spoze you could just run the high string directly onto
the bridge [not thru]. "Thru" makes more difference
for the fatter lower strings .... more energy I guess. I
really am just guessing.

Perznally I just find thru strung basses to be annoying
and tho I have some, more or less accidentally, I am
NOT a believer. The string contacts the bridge plate
before it heads on thru, and nothing beyond that point
[of contact] is "alive". On a similar basis, I do believe
in trapeze tailpieces, cuz a lightweight trapeze is like
extending the string thru space without interruption,
without contacting anything along the extra length.
 
Golem said:
`

If the bridge is both thru and whatchacall "not-thru" ?
I spoze you could just run the high string directly onto
the bridge [not thru]. "Thru" makes more difference
for the fatter lower strings .... more energy I guess. I
really am just guessing.

Perznally I just find thru strung basses to be annoying
and tho I have some, more or less accidentally, I am
NOT a believer. The string contacts the bridge plate
before it heads on thru, and nothing beyond that point
[of contact] is "alive". On a similar basis, I do believe
in trapeze tailpieces, cuz a lightweight trapeze is like
extending the string thru space without interruption,
without contacting anything along the extra length.
Click to expand...

Agree with you there. I really don’t see the point to through body stringing. I can imagine there is some kind of sonic benefit to it but I cannot tell the difference. The bass in question (that I acquired very much by accident is perfect for the job it does, it’s super light, twin pickups, skinny neck, perfect for 2hr+ sets with my function band) it is of a reputable brand but there is no way I would try stringing it through the top, the option is there to do so but the only thing holding the bridge to the body are three self tapping wood screws so the top loading option is very much a token gesture.
I have no experience with trapeze bridges apart from guitar so understand the potential they offer.
Anyways my apologies for taking this thread way off topic, the Cobalt Flats paired with said bass for me is perfect. Don’t think I’ll be putting them on either of my StingRay,s any time soon but you never know! They have definitely inspired my other bass that’s for sure !
 
`

danny-79 said:
........
it is of a reputable brand but there is no way I would
try stringing it through the top, the option is there to
do so but the only thing holding the bridge to the body
are three self tapping wood screws so the top loading
option is very much a token gesture. ........
Click to expand...

I hear ya .... but mebbe you worry just a wee bit too
much if you only need the extra length on only just
one string out of all four ? Surely, between the three
screws which must contribute something, plus the
three strings that you still string "thru" ... you won't
have the bridge come loose.

Why not try it ? Even if I'm wrong, the bridge will
not fly off in a disastrous manner what with those
three "thru" strings as "safety cables". At worst it
will get kinda loose if I'm wrong about this.


`
 
Golem said:
`



I hear ya .... but mebbe you worry just a wee bit too
much if you only need the extra length on only just
one string out of all four ? Surely, between the three
screws which must contribute something, plus the
three strings that you still string "thru" ... you won't
have the bridge come loose.

Why not try it ? Even if I'm wrong, the bridge will
not fly off in a disastrous manner what with those
three "thru" strings as "safety cables". At worst it
will get kinda loose if I'm wrong about this.


`
Click to expand...

Yeah I hear what you are saying and it’s definitely worth considering next string change, but for now it’s all ok. No slippage so all good.
I used it again Tuesday at rehearsal the Cobalt Flats have given it a whole new lease of life. I have only ever had Flats once (twice even) before ever and wasn’t that impressed with them on either occasion but now the bass is a pleasure to play and for a none EBMM sounds great over a wide range of song material.
I’m thinking of revising Cobalt Rounds again for the StingRay next, buts that’s another story!

(That’s also one hell of an impressive collection you have got in your signature)
 
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