Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 8 stores. Prices updated .

Sweetwater
3.0 (3)
$39.99
Guitar Center
4.0 (11)
$39.99
Amazon
4.6 (356)
$31.99
Reverb
5.0 (2)
$33.99 New
$39.99 Used
Musician's Friend
4.0 (8)
$39.99
Thomann
4.6 (28)
$32.00

Price History

Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105)". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Discover the Power of Cobalt with Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings

Unleash the potential of your bass with the Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings. Designed to redefine your playing experience, these strings are crafted from a unique blend of cobalt and steel, a combination that pushes the envelope of bass tone and performance. The cobalt alloy, being inherently magnetic, ensures a stronger signal and an enhanced pickup response. This results in a robust low-end, focused mids, and crisp highs that will breathe new life into your bass tones.

Experience the Cobalt Difference

At the core of these strings is a groundbreaking cobalt alloy that generates a hotter signal and a fuller tone compared to traditional strings. This cobalt blend also offers a silky feel under your fingers, facilitating easy slides, bends, and vibrato. It's like a luxury treatment for your fingertips.

Thundering Lows and More

The strings come in gauges of .050, .070, .085, and .105, delivering earth-shaking low-end tones. The heavier bottom strings produce deep, resonant bass tones that remain tight and well-defined. The low B and E strings ring out with tremendous body and clarity, providing a powerful low-frequency punch that bassists crave for.

Reliability that Lasts

Apart from their remarkable tone, these strings also offer lasting performance and durability. The cobalt alloy is highly resistant to corrosion and wear, ensuring these strings maintain their tonal integrity over a long lifespan. This means, you can count on them for consistent performance, from one gig to another.

Key Features:

  • Made from a proprietary blend of cobalt and steel
  • Provides a robust low-end, focused mids, and crisp highs
  • Features a groundbreaking cobalt alloy for a hotter signal and fuller tone
  • Offers a silky feel under the fingers for effortless slides, bends, and vibrato
  • Comes in gauges of .050, .070, .085, and .105 for thundering lows
  • Highly resistant to corrosion and wear for lasting performance and durability
  • Enhanced pickup response due to cobalt's inherent magnetic properties
  • Delivers consistent performance, gig after gig
  • Made in USA

Product specs

Guitar Type Electric Bass
Number of Strings 4
Coated No
Gauges .050, .070, .085, .105
Winding Type Round Wound
Core Material Steel
Winding Material Iron/Cobalt Alloy
Scale Length Long

FAQs

What makes Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings different from other strings?

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings are made with a unique iron/cobalt alloy that enhances magnetic interaction with pickups, resulting in a stronger, clearer tone with extended frequency response compared to standard nickel-wound strings.

Are these Ernie Ball Cobalt Bass Strings suitable for all electric bass guitars?

Yes, these strings are designed for long-scale electric bass guitars and are compatible with most standard models, offering a balanced tone across various playing styles.

How do the gauges of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings affect playability?

The gauges (.050, .070, .085, .105) provide a medium tension that offers a balance between ease of play and tonal depth, suitable for versatile playing styles from fingerstyle to aggressive picking.

Do Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings maintain their tone over time?

Yes, these strings are known for their longevity, retaining brightness and clarity longer than many other uncoated strings due to their cobalt construction.

How do Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings impact the sound of my bass?

These strings deliver a strong, clear tone with enhanced low-end response and crisp highs, making them ideal for players seeking a dynamic and expressive sound.

HeavyBassRig

HeavyBassRig

Ernie Ball regular slinky vs cobalt slinky bass strings

Video thumbnail for Ernie Ball regular slinky vs cobalt slinky bass strings by HeavyBassRig

Ernie Ball regular slinky vs cobalt slinky bass strings

HeavyBassRig

HeavyBassRig

Reviews

PROS

  • High output with a full, balanced tone across all strings

  • Retains sound clarity and brightness over time

  • Provides a powerful, punchy tone with a hint of growl

  • Comfortable playability despite being slightly rougher

  • Versatile for various bass models, including headless systems

  • Enhances tone in cheaper bass instruments

  • Strong B string with singing highs on D/G strings

  • Strings stay in tune once broken in

  • Long-lasting sound quality, appreciated even after extended use

CONS

  • Strings can feel rougher compared to other brands

  • Prone to rusting if not maintained properly

  • Some users report strings losing tone quickly

  • Occasional quality control issues like unraveling or string breakage

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105).

User experience

  • Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings are praised for lasting two to three months, even with heavy playing, especially when using Fast Fret for maintenance.

    Source
  • Owners report no breakage issues over long-term use, even with aggressive playing styles, indicating robust build quality.

    Source
  • Some owners find Cobalt flats to be a hybrid with the low-end slam of flats and the grindy treble of rounds, appealing to diverse musical styles.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • These strings are well-suited for genres like metal, punk, and hardcore due to their durability and ability to withstand heavy playing styles.

    Source
  • Cobalt flats have been noted to suit passive jazz basses for a bright, articulate sound, especially on recordings.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball Cobalt flats are favored for playing early Iron Maiden due to their hybrid warm and bright tones.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Strings are noted to maintain a good tonal range without being overly bright, making them versatile across various music styles.

    Source
  • Users report that the E string can go dead if exposed to high heat, suggesting sensitivity to environmental factors.

    Source
  • A professional setup is recommended with the first set of strings to ensure optimal performance and address potential tuning issues.

    Source

Build quality

  • Cobalt rounds can be as rough as stainless steel, potentially causing fret wear and corrosion issues if not maintained properly.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The roundwounds are compared to DR Pure Blues for their bright and smooth tone, though Cobalts are noted to be rougher in texture.

    Source
  • Ernie Ball Slinkys are preferred over D’Addario for bass by some users who enjoy the sound and feel on a P bass.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Cobalt flats are more affordable compared to other flatwound brands like TI, DR, and La Bella, often costing around $60 for a 5-string set.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 5 Reviews and 20 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
wafflel0rd

best strings ever

These are my go to strings for everything i play. From the rich, bright, metallic tone, to the comfortability. These are my favorite strings by far!

cbfintheflesh18

awesome

These are my bass strings. I love flat-wounds and will forever use them instead of round wounds. 100% recommend these and any Ernie Ball bass strings

slypero

Tried these strings

These strings are good, hope it last long as it's pricier than regular.

the_rev_fanboy1999

Good

Just the best strings I played with! They may not be good as elixirs but still.

teumae01

good

it is very very very very very very good

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Justin Chancellor uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105)

Justin Chancellor

Bassist

Tool

...
Verified via Photo

As seen on a screenshot of a Tweet from Ernie Ball from Sept 3 2015:

Famously Slinky. @Tool's Justin Chancellor plays Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Cobalt bass strings #iplayslinky

See how Mike Dirnt uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105)

Mike Dirnt

Singer, Guitarist

Green Day

...
Verified via Photo

"Welcome to the family, @MikeDirnt of @GreenDay! #iplayslinky"

See how Jason Richardson uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105)

Jason Richardson

Guitarist

Chelsea Grin

...
Verified via Photo

in this post jaso shows off his ernie ball strings. he uses a set of slinky cobalt bass strings for his basses

See how Johnny Christ uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105)

Johnny Christ

Bassist

Avenged Sevenfold

...
Verified via Bassplayer

"Six months before we went into the studio, Ernie Ball sent me a pack of their Cobalt strings to try out. I wasn’t looking to change, but when I tried them, they had a metallic sheen that was very cool. So I’ve switched to playing Cobalts"

See how Mike Herrera uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105)

Mike Herrera

Singer, Guitarist

MxPx

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video by Ernie Ball, Mike Herrera is shown with packs of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105), highlighting his use of these strings.

See how Joe Weiss uses Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105)

Joe Weiss

Bassist

Four Year Strong

...
Verified via Premierguitar

"Weiss strings up with Ernie Ball sets, gauged .110, .090, .070, and .050."

S

Shane Slade

Bassist

Fit for an Autopsy

...
Verified via YouTube

Shane uses a set of cobalt ernie ball strings on his basses

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass Strings (50-105), it is most commonly used with the following gear.

More Ernie Ball Strings

Accessories & Related Items

Community setups

Similar

Gear Guides