Question about the Cobalt strings

[Tis BOOLsheet]

This is sort of a dumb question, I guess but I just bought a pack of these-- I'm actually typing this in the middle of restringing my strat with the cobalts. I noticed the unwound top strings (E-B-G) are marked differently than the wound strings. The unwound strings say "Steel plain string" and the bottom 3 wound strings say "Electric guitar string." I can tell just by looking at the wound strings that they're different, but my question is are the top unwound strings also made of cobalt? Are they made of a combination of steel and cobalt, or are they basically the same as the top strings in a slinky pack?

 

[Tis BOOLsheet]

nobody?

 

[DCStingray]

The unwound strings are the same as normal unwound strings in our other string sets which is a specially tempered tin plated high carbon steel.

 

[Tis BOOLsheet]

thanks! appreciate it

 

[Crowyote]

What about the Not Evens?

I am thinking about ordering a set or few of the Not Evens. Currently I have the Power Cobalt 11's on my JPX6 BFR, but to my ear the "e" string sounds a bit thin. I'm a classically trained player who likes a thicker string and high action.

Do the Not Even Cobalt strings have the same makeup as the other sets? i.e. Tin plated Steel core "e" "b" and "g"? and cobalt wound "d" "a" and low "e"

or is the "g" 24p also cobalt wound? I am curious as to what the "p" stands for.

Thanks.

 

[DrKev]

"P" stands for plain, i.e. unwound.

 

[Crowyote]

As opposed to coming out with a new thread and humiliating you guys, I'm going to bury it in this thread.

I'm not at all impressed with the Cobalt strings. The treble strings are nothing special really, and have a bright tinny almost sitar-like sound on my guitar, even after I got it setup and adjusted perfectly. The bass strings are okay, but again nothing special. They feel a little rough sometimes.

I've also witness shards or threads of the cobalt alloy getting stuck to the pickups after 3 weeks. Admittedly, I do use my fingernails and don't alway have the lightest touch, but I've never seen this happening say on a set of Helix's . . . even one that has been on my guitar for 6 months.

As someone else said, Cobalt is a fragile metal, so I tend to wonder how they are going to hold up. Plus it's not only excessively expensive (I was a professional oil painter for many years) it is also highly TOXIC!

So is Nickel for that matter (can damage your kidneys) but not nearly so much as Cobalt. My concern about it being toxic, and the risk of exposure seems low and farfetched, but if threads and strands are wearing off the strings that could be a different matter altogether

That's my two cents. If you came out with nylon wrapped cobalt, that would be something special and it would protect the player from toxic exposure.

 

[Crowyote]

Higher Output

I will point out that the strings do have higher output.

In fact, it was too much initially. When I received my guitar stock the preamp was completely maxed out, (along with pickups that are too distorted) it made the Fender EC Vbro Champ I had just bought sound like it was going to disintegrate. Idiotically I returned the amp, when I should have just had the guitar tweaked. I'll never get a deal like I did on that amp again.

On the other hand, I love y'alls stuff. The BFR JPX neck has been the best for my hybridized fusion-classical style. I hope that the company will become more innovative and explore more string-making materials and alloys; hopefully, something that makes a more interesting sounding treble string.

 

[Crowyote]

On second thought, I wanted to clarify that, in fact, my recollection was off. I had yet to have the guitar strung with the cobalt strings when I was testing out the Fender. Also, I've had the strings on my guitar for about 6 weeks, not 3 before I started seeing those threads coming off the strings. It's still weird tho.

 

[Tis BOOLsheet]

I think it's been noted that the treble strings are the same strings you would get in a normal Slinky pack. Maybe that's why they don't sound "special." You've been playing them all along assuming that you're a Slinky player. It's the wound strings that have cobalt.

 

[Crowyote]

clearly so

I think it's been noted that the treble strings are the same strings you would get in a normal Slinky pack. Maybe that's why they don't sound "special." You've been playing them all along assuming that you're a Slinky player. It's the wound strings that have cobalt.

I know, that was made clear earlier.

It's the bass strings I'm talking about that seem to thread out, and contain a potentially hazardous metal. I'm hoping this can become a subject of debate. The question is whether or not using the cobalt-alloy wound strings will constitute a health risk. In medical communities, Europe, and the State of California it has been acknowledged that exposure to cobalt can lead to cobalt sensitivity. It is classified as a carcinogen. I know this as an oil painter: I made lots of my own cobalt based paints from the various beautiful Cobalt pigments. Cobalt was mined for hundreds, if not thousands of years in Germany, but in the last decade they've halted and put a damper on the Cobalt-mining industry due to chronic health problems experienced by the miners and factory workers exposed to the metal.

Yes, they have higher output and have a somewhat more intense sound. They don't really feel especially smooth, not really sure if they are more flexible, seem to thread out, at least in my case . . . and more importantly, the question arises, are they dangerous?

I love this company so I don't want to start a thread with the title "Cobalt strings = health risk," but the issue will likely come up sometime. And if the guys feel that they have a strong case that the strings are harmless they should dispel the notion now and forever. I'm not trying to point fingers, or make a claim of any kind. I just want to know the facts.

 

[DrKev]

There is no health issue. Exposure to high levels of pure cobalt over a prolonged period of time is necessary for any problems to arise (e.g. breathing pure cobalt dust in a factory). Inhalation or ingestion of pure dust is most dangerous, skin contact causes the least problems. And this is NOT pure cobalt in a high concentration, high-risk environment, it's part of an alloy, which lessens any very small risk to practically negligible.

The same is true of many other elements that are used in common alloys in everyday life - nickel, magnesium, chromium, phosphorous, molybdenum, palladium, etc. - may cause problems in high concentrations over long periods, no consequence in small amounts. People don't drop dead from using stainless steel or phosphor bronze guitar strings. In fact I'd expect the risk with cobalts to be less than the risks with nickel strings (which some people have allergies to).


I'd be very surprised if the little shards you see are from the strings. My guess is steel wool. Many guitar techs use the finest grade of steel wool to clean fingerboards and frets. But it is notorious for spreading tiny thread-like shards that stick to pickups and strings. (It's the reason I don't use it very often - too damn messy!) If your tech doesn't clean his bench down very often, it's extremely likely that you'll get steel wool particles from a previous job on your guitar. If you ever use steel wool yourself, use masking tape to cover the pickups before you start and thoroughly clean down before re-stringing.

If you don't like Cobalt strings, that's cool. Strings are all about personal preference. Every brand and type of strings has it's own unique tone and feel. Find what works best for you. Cobalt is a new flavour in the marketplace, not everyone will like the tone or feel. The same is true of stainless steel, or pure nickel, or flatwounds, etc.

Next time please start a new thread rather than add to a different topic. It's just good "internet etiquette".

Thanks!

 

[Crowyote]

Good point.

Very good point, Dr. Kev.

My apologies, it seemed that title of this thread was appropriate, but I will consider your suggestion in the future.

Seems my old tech wasn't so great after all.

 

[pappak]

I have been playing the cobalt's since they first arrived here a few weeks ago and I love these strings they're great. I have restrung once because I was getting a very raspy/tinny sound from them, and thought I had worn them out after playing them so much as I love the feel of them. After two days of use with the new set, I am getting this sound again on the D string mostly. I have an American Fat Strat, I think they now call them American Deluxe HSS. They have the metal ball bearing nut and I was wondering if this was causing the problem, but it also happens after I fret the string too. So I sorta ruled this out. I feel like I have tried everything possible bar changing the pickups. I would be interested to find out if anyone else has experienced this effect!
As for the health issue... I doubt if there would be enough cobalt to harm anyone as they would not be allowed to put them on the market if it did.

 

[edhalen]

I would recommend calling EB Customer service and report the issue. They may be able to help.

I have been playing the cobalt's since they first arrived here a few weeks ago and I love these strings they're great. I have restrung once because I was getting a very raspy/tinny sound from them, and thought I had worn them out after playing them so much as I love the feel of them. After two days of use with the new set, I am getting this sound again on the D string mostly. I have an American Fat Strat, I think they now call them American Deluxe HSS. They have the metal ball bearing nut and I was wondering if this was causing the problem, but it also happens after I fret the string too. So I sorta ruled this out. I feel like I have tried everything possible bar changing the pickups. I would be interested to find out if anyone else has experienced this effect!
As for the health issue... I doubt if there would be enough cobalt to harm anyone as they would not be allowed to put them on the market if it did.

 

[ACELUEK]

Most health problems arise when grinding hardened tooling (Carbide) and the dust which contains cobalt is inhaled.

 

[ohtara1211]

Have always used the stainless "Slinky" guitar strings. Read some reviews indicating the new Cobalts have a bright sound as well, along with some other advantages. Since the top strings that come with it are the standard nickel wrap Slinkys, and since I have several sets of Stainless lying around, would I get a more consistent tone across all strings by replacing the top strings that come with the Cobalt set with the stainless? Maybe there is a reason they don't come that way, would it produce some weird harmonic?

 

[DrKev]

The differences between Stainless, Cobalts and standard Slinkys is only in the wound strings. The plain strings are the same tin coated high carbon steel and swapping them between sets won't change anything.