I don't like Ernie Ball Strings...
When I started playing again in 2007 [that's a long story] I bought a cheap guitar and equally cheap strings... Ernie Ball Super Slinky. As I got used to the guitar and the feel of fretting strings again, I began to notice the unwound strings were two twangy. And so my string journey began. I tried different kinds and gauges and finally settled on another brand.
When Ernie Ball introduced their Cobalt Strings the advertising blitz got my attention [like many of you I'm sure], I watched YouTube videos of Slash and other great guitarists rave about how these strings revolutionized their sound. While I'm willing to give these guys the benefit of the doubt and believe them, the skeptical side of me wondered why I didn't get to hear the difference. Remembering the assault on my ears from the past, I wasn't about to take a chance on these Cobalt strings. And for 10 bucks a set, the price wasn't encouraging. I mean, why spent twice what I spend now on something that may not be worth the price?
So like all guitar players I played on...
And when it came time to change my strings [which probably isn't as often as I should] I thought I'd check em out. So I tracked down to my favorite music store, threw down my ten bucks, and brought home a set and threw em on my strat.
I knew there'd be some getting used to these things because i'd been using DR Half Tite strings [which falls in between the standard 9 and 10 gauge set]. Having played EB's 9 gauge set and found them rather spongy I went for the Regular Slinky set [their 10 gauge set]. Knowing the heavier gauge would also take some getting used to I decided to use them for a while before making my judgement.
Install and initial tuning were comparable to any other strings. No difference here... what I noticed first was wound strings didn't feel as stiff. They were definitely heavier than I was used to, but I didn't need to use a death grip to fret the notes. This was unexpected... What's more, bending was not a chore, even as I got used to the heavier gauge. The EB Cobalt strings felt good, even right out of the pack.
I like to play my Strat acoustically, and after spending more than a few sleepless nights playing my way back to sleep, any string on my stick has to be able to sound good on it's own. Acoustically the Cobalt strings had a balanced sound. As I played I noticed that I could hear the wound strings as well as the unwound ones. And the notes sounded from all strings with equal clarity. In the Super Slinky set, the unwound strings seemed louder than the wound ones... making the higher notes ring out louder, and more twangy than the lower notes. Acoustic notes on the Cobalt set sounded clear. The unwound strings rang out with clarity and seemed fuller, while the unwound strings were full, but not twangy. Acoustically, the Cobalt strings sounded much better than the Super Slinky offering a balanced sound, with none of the twang I remember...
The real test of Electric Guitar Strings is what happens when the amplifier kicks in and the tubes get hot. Electrically the Cobalt strings gave me the same clarity I heard without the amplifier. Each note sounded different... more clear. As I played through the clean channel I heard the same notes I've been playing all along, I'm getting more of them... and they sounded clearer. In the unwound strings I heard the clarity of the notes [without the twang I heard from the Super Slinky set] and while the unwound strings sounded clear, they didn't overpower the wound ones. Overall I heard the same balance sound and clarity that I heard acoustically. When distorted, the Cobalt strings clarity made each note sound better, making the distorted note sound smoother. The Cobalt strings gave me a noticeable improvement in the tone of each string, giving me more of the notes I play, without the twang.
I really thought Cobalt strings were some kind of gimmick... I was wrong. The extra money I spent on these strings was well worth it. My tone got clearer and my distorted tones are now warmer and that annoying twang is gone... good riddance.
The bottom line: these are well worth the extra cash for the improved tone and clarity. They're worth a try. Go for it!!!!
Now it's your turn... try em for yourself and leave your comments below. I really want to hear what all of you think!!!
Rock On...
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