and could not really perceive enough of a hotter output to justify the hype or the feel. I came away feeling that the perceived benefits were just marketing hype and couldn't recommend them to anyone.
That’s the way I feel also.
I got 2 sets of cobalt’s when they came out, from the get-go did not like them but decided to live with them. Got use to the feel but did not care for the sound, mostly on the 5[SUP]th[/SUP] & 6[SUP]th[/SUP] strings. Tried adjusting pickup height and all that but still did not care for them. Put the other set away, about a year later put those on a different guitar, same result basically just don’t like them. With some drive, the Cobalt’s sounded ok, but it was the clean sound that killed it for me and that’s always my starting point.
My string of choice these days are Dunlop Nickel’s, I love the sound yes! I have no idea what they do to the casings on the wrapped strings but they feel great. I use them on all of my electrics which if you know me is saying something. Example in the past on my Gibson’s I might use GHS and on my Ibanez’s I might have used EB’s, not set in stone but you get the idea.
My first set of Dunlop’s I got as a door gift at the NY Amp show, and even then they sat around for a few months until one day one of my Les Paul’s needed string’s. Gave them a whirl, ordered 10 sets the following day at the time I just wanted them for my Gibson’s. But tried them on other guitars and they just sound great across the board, but that’s me. Allot of great strings out there, and since not every guitar is the same or guitar player, we----lll. Gets complicated! And then throw pickups into the equation, DAM!
See now I've read several places that people say that they felt rough, but I can't imagine a string feeling smoother. I'm wondering if you didn't get a bad set or something because the only way that I can describe it is the feel of a guitar after having your frets polished where everything just feels like butter. These are insanely great feeling. The more I play them though the more I'm thinking that the hotter output is not what I want.
Any comments on the Nanowebs?
The rough comments (regarding Colbalt’s) surprised me also, but I still didn’t like the feel compared to other strings. As for Nanowebs, I do use Elixir Nanowebs on my acoustics and like them allot, enough to plunk down the extra cash. Truth of the matter they last me so much longer I am getting more than my money’s worth. Never tried a coated set on my electrics???? Something to do later, Ha ha. One thing I have noticed were my pick falls on the strings, the coating takes a beating and peels back a bit, but does not seem to affect sound or sustain, but keep in mind I am using 13’s on the acoustic’s. Thinner set of strings might affect sustain.
Don’t know, one way to find out.
John