Ernie Ball P10426 Slinky Cobalt Electric Guitar .026 Single String

I started experimenting with EB Cobalt strings for my archtop guitars (acoustic/electric) and highly recommend them - at least if you're looking for roundwound rather than flatwound. I put together customized sets for different tunings, with thicker 6th strings than normal, so I'm working with several local luthiers to re-setup my guitars (filing nut, tailpiece slot, and saddle). They noticed a more "metalic" sound than they're used to, but it's growing on them - the tone is definitely different. They're very similar in sound to Martin Luxe Kovar, which is made by Martin under license from Ernie Ball, and Kovar is an iron/cobalt/nickel alloy whereas Ernie Ball apparently uses a proprietary iron/cobalt alloy for the winding on these. Cobalt is more ferromagnetic than iron, and iron is more ferromagnetic than nickel; while cobalt is harder than nickel, both are softer than iron. They have a very definite "feel" to them, which I would describe as very "grippy. "

In terms of sound / tone quality, I would describe them as being analogous to but different from phosphor bronze acoustic strings in having a lot of "jangly" overtones, certainly compared to flatwound strings but also compared to other roundwound strings. They're perfect for certain types of tone chasing - harmonics, open string sounds, more melodic styles rather than machine-gun-tempo jazz chord changes. To each his own.

I remember making my kids cry forcing them to listen to discordant jazz while driving to the beach; God's punishment is now I want to cry also when I hear that type of "music. "