I agree with your description. I am a vocalist, on higher note the flatwound is like using headvoice with more harmonics(you call it the "fundamental") whereas the roundwound is like chest voice with fewer harmonics but more standout ones. Reduced string noise is the bonus/trade off.
They feel like flats but sound like they’re round, except for the lack of finger noise. Also cobalt comes mostly from the Congo, so I can buy them without supporting Putler.
I went through a very similar process. Every few years I'd decide to revisit flats again and every time I ended up yanking them off and putting my rounds back on. I really wanted to love flats. I always liked the smooth feel, but being more of a metal and punk guy, I was not going for a thumpy James Jamerson tone. Plus, normal flats tend to be really stiff, especially if you use a medium to heavy gauge set. But then I read about these EB cobalt flats somewhere and decided to try flats one more time. That was like three years ago. And now all 9 of my regular 4 string basses have the 50-105 set of EB cobalt flats. I tend to keep a set on for about 9-10 months before the brightness has faded almost completely away. The funny thing is there is actually a market to sell them used after they are well broken in, people who seem to prefer more traditional sounding flats. The players who don't think strings sound good until they've been on for 4 or 5 years. Anyway, great video. Thanks!
I’ve always played rounds, even on my Precision, and have never enjoyed flats until now. I did a couple of gigs and a recording session with these strings and am sold!! Great feel and great tone. These have a satiny feel and aren’t mirror slick to slow you down like a gloss neck would. Awesome strings.
Dude man, I've been looking for the brightest flats I can find for the same reason you switched, I just don't have great reach. I have smallish hands so I find myself sliding a lot but I play with a punk/metal style so I like the high end. I think you sold me on these bud. Thanks!
Great review! Been playing ernie ball slinkies for your but def gonna get a pack of these. Also, perfect analogy of the root/harmonic description between flat and round wounds.
Thank you so much. I’m trying to add sone new content to the channel. I have recently picked up the bass again after putting it down for a few years. I’m remembering my roots.
I rather like the Nylon Tape wounds. They seem to have more clarity than a traditional flat. I'll try these and see/hear how they sound compared to the NTW.
Your very right. I love the round wound tone too. And I too am a EB cobalt round wound player. But that darn annoying top end - glassy finger noise is VERY harsh on the ears !
Thanks for sharing your experience, yes sliding on 'rounds' will make noise, unless you use some sort of lubricant. Flats ?? Nice move. You'll slide more easy, less damage to the fingers too!! ;) What bass is this ?? I like it.
Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds made me a better player. They are the best sounding strings you can buy. I can't believe I played so many years on roundwound strings. I can't ever use them again. The only downside I found is if you are playing in high humidity you need finger ease or baby powder.
Talking about traditionally disliking flatwound strings whilst wearing a t-shirt for a band with arguably the most famous flatwound metal bassist of the last 40 years. That amuses me.
Lots of legends play flat wound strings. I think I first learned that Steve Harris used flat wounds was in 1986 or so. I tried them then and really hated they way they sounded in my hands. But my taste and my hands have changed a lot over the years. Now I see the light. Especially with these Cobalt flat strings.
@@clintsearcy3252 If you google for it you will find numerous people who recieved already rusty strings, had strings breaking while putting them on or g strings breaking while playing (which is very unusual for bass strings, they rarely ever break). So their quality control doesn't seem to be the best. The majority of people will probably get functional strings, but I have never read as many complaints about a certain set of strings like in this case. Nonetheless I am also considering getting some as my next set. Currently I am using Rotosound SS Pressurewounds which sit right in between flats and rounds and I really like them (still some fingernoise, they have a very bright top end and a very growly bottom end but not the usual roundwound zing. @Kurst One So if you just want to change up the sound of your bass also consider looking into pressurewounds.. they are basically rounds with less fingernoise and zing. Initially they felt pretty harsh like rounds, but after one or two weeks of playing they are muuuch smother than nickel roundwounds although they are made of steel. I just can't decide if I want to try some zingy SS roundwounds (never tried them) or try more thump with the cobalts and in the end I just decide to keep the PW because they still sound awesome after two months.
@@Nacaer I’m going to trust my own experience over what google tells me. I have been using Ernie Ball Cobalt string almost exclusively since 2012. I have yet to have any issues with rust or excessive breaking. I did have some problems with the ball coming unwound on an old Les Paul with a Washburn WonderBar term but that guitar had that issue with all strings until I finally started using RPS strings with soldered ball windings. I need to try soldering done Cobalt strings some day.
@@Nacaer Thank you so much for your insight/ reply! I did end up getting the cobalts. They definitely live up to their reputation of being bright and zingy, but it was a bit too exaggerated for me. (And I like that) they also make the most amount of finger noise out of any strings I have ever tried. I switched over to some DR hi-beamstwo days later, and I am very happy with them. Thank you for suggesting pressurewounds! I have never heard of them, but will definitely look into them.
Good topic man, you think those flats have too much tension? I just put them on my Jack Casady bass and they are rough on my fingers. Maybe need to be broken in more? They sound great, just the feel is my issue.
Is that a short scale bass you are playing? I've been wanting to put the Cobalt Flatwounds on my Mustang short scale bass, but I'm unsure whether they will fit.
@@clintsearcy3252 my Dad had a G3 Grabber that I learned on and the body definitely has similar cues. He only sold it in the last 15 years or so. I can't believe they are $2200 on Reverb!
I agree with your description. I am a vocalist, on higher note the flatwound is like using headvoice with more harmonics(you call it the "fundamental") whereas the roundwound is like chest voice with fewer harmonics but more standout ones. Reduced string noise is the bonus/trade off.
They feel like flats but sound like they’re round, except for the lack of finger noise. Also cobalt comes mostly from the Congo, so I can buy them without supporting Putler.
Just ordered a set and waiting for them to arrive. You, and others, got me all excited and looking forward to playing them.
Thank you for posting
Happy to do so.
I never liked roundwounds, also! Too squeaky! I switched to Ernie Ball cobalts on all my basses! Great to know they have cobalt flatwounds now! 👍
I went through a very similar process. Every few years I'd decide to revisit flats again and every time I ended up yanking them off and putting my rounds back on. I really wanted to love flats. I always liked the smooth feel, but being more of a metal and punk guy, I was not going for a thumpy James Jamerson tone. Plus, normal flats tend to be really stiff, especially if you use a medium to heavy gauge set. But then I read about these EB cobalt flats somewhere and decided to try flats one more time. That was like three years ago. And now all 9 of my regular 4 string basses have the 50-105 set of EB cobalt flats. I tend to keep a set on for about 9-10 months before the brightness has faded almost completely away. The funny thing is there is actually a market to sell them used after they are well broken in, people who seem to prefer more traditional sounding flats. The players who don't think strings sound good until they've been on for 4 or 5 years. Anyway, great video. Thanks!
Those are the best sounding flats I've ever heard. Definitely will have to try some.
I’ve always played rounds, even on my Precision, and have never enjoyed flats until now. I did a couple of gigs and a recording session with these strings and am sold!! Great feel and great tone. These have a satiny feel and aren’t mirror slick to slow you down like a gloss neck would.
Awesome strings.
Dude man, I've been looking for the brightest flats I can find for the same reason you switched, I just don't have great reach. I have smallish hands so I find myself sliding a lot but I play with a punk/metal style so I like the high end. I think you sold me on these bud. Thanks!
Great review! Been playing ernie ball slinkies for your but def gonna get a pack of these. Also, perfect analogy of the root/harmonic description between flat and round wounds.
Enjoyed the video, sir. Glad to see a fresh approach. Keep up the good work.
Thank you so much. I’m trying to add sone new content to the channel. I have recently picked up the bass again after putting it down for a few years. I’m remembering my roots.
@@SearcySW keep it up!
Man I am loving those cobalt flats. They are the perfect strings.
Good demo, thanks.
Good job. I have a few years on ya. But excellent presentation.
I rather like the Nylon Tape wounds. They seem to have more clarity than a traditional flat. I'll try these and see/hear how they sound compared to the NTW.
Your very right. I love the round wound tone too. And I too am a EB cobalt round wound player. But that darn annoying top end - glassy finger noise is VERY harsh on the ears !
Thanks for sharing your experience, yes sliding on 'rounds' will make noise, unless you use some sort of lubricant.
Flats ?? Nice move. You'll slide more easy, less damage to the fingers too!! ;) What bass is this ?? I like it.
Ernie Ball Cobalt Flatwounds made me a better player. They are the best sounding strings you can buy. I can't believe I played so many years on roundwound strings. I can't ever use them again. The only downside I found is if you are playing in high humidity you need finger ease or baby powder.
Good stuff, appreciate it!
Very cool, cool Ripper bass also. Does the brighter tone last really long with these cobalt flatwounds?
Talking about traditionally disliking flatwound strings whilst wearing a t-shirt for a band with arguably the most famous flatwound metal bassist of the last 40 years. That amuses me.
Lots of legends play flat wound strings. I think I first learned that Steve Harris used flat wounds was in 1986 or so. I tried them then and really hated they way they sounded in my hands. But my taste and my hands have changed a lot over the years. Now I see the light. Especially with these Cobalt flat strings.
I’m interested in trying cobalts, but people say they break easily?is that true?
I haven’t noticed any break issues with the Cobalt strings. Sounds like one of those internet complaints.
@@clintsearcy3252 If you google for it you will find numerous people who recieved already rusty strings, had strings breaking while putting them on or g strings breaking while playing (which is very unusual for bass strings, they rarely ever break). So their quality control doesn't seem to be the best.
The majority of people will probably get functional strings, but I have never read as many complaints about a certain set of strings like in this case.
Nonetheless I am also considering getting some as my next set. Currently I am using Rotosound SS Pressurewounds which sit right in between flats and rounds and I really like them (still some fingernoise, they have a very bright top end and a very growly bottom end but not the usual roundwound zing.
@Kurst One So if you just want to change up the sound of your bass also consider looking into pressurewounds.. they are basically rounds with less fingernoise and zing. Initially they felt pretty harsh like rounds, but after one or two weeks of playing they are muuuch smother than nickel roundwounds although they are made of steel.
I just can't decide if I want to try some zingy SS roundwounds (never tried them) or try more thump with the cobalts and in the end I just decide to keep the PW because they still sound awesome after two months.
@@Nacaer I’m going to trust my own experience over what google tells me. I have been using Ernie Ball Cobalt string almost exclusively since 2012. I have yet to have any issues with rust or excessive breaking.
I did have some problems with the ball coming unwound on an old Les Paul with a Washburn WonderBar term but that guitar had that issue with all strings until I finally started using RPS strings with soldered ball windings. I need to try soldering done Cobalt strings some day.
Thanks for the best review of these strings anywhere!
@@Nacaer Thank you so much for your insight/ reply! I did end up getting the cobalts. They definitely live up to their reputation of being bright and zingy, but it was a bit too exaggerated for me. (And I like that) they also make the most amount of finger noise out of any strings I have ever tried. I switched over to some DR hi-beamstwo days later, and I am very happy with them.
Thank you for suggesting pressurewounds! I have never heard of them, but will definitely look into them.
Good topic man, you think those flats have too much tension? I just put them on my Jack Casady bass and they are rough on my fingers. Maybe need to be broken in more? They sound great, just the feel is my issue.
They are killing my fingers
Is that a short scale bass you are playing? I've been wanting to put the Cobalt Flatwounds on my Mustang short scale bass, but I'm unsure whether they will fit.
No, the grabber is long scale. I haven’t tried them on a short scale.
cant find them in shortscale. Can you ?
@@Charlie-hp2oh Nope. I don't think they exist :(
whats that bass??? 😍
Wanna really lose your mind?
Try the labella super polished also sold under MTD super polished..
Is that a Gibson?
Yes, it’s a 1978 Gibson Ripper.
@@clintsearcy3252 my Dad had a G3 Grabber that I learned on and the body definitely has similar cues. He only sold it in the last 15 years or so. I can't believe they are $2200 on Reverb!
:)
Thump, no sustain - where do I sign up 🤣 If I wanted top end and sustain, I'd play a guitar.