Question 1

Which artists use Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Cobalt (.012–.056)?

Accepted Answer

Joey Sturgis has cited Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Cobalt (.012–.056) in a sourced interview. See "These artists use this product" above for the full citation.

Question 2

What's the difference between Cobalt Slinky and regular (nickel) Slinky?

Accepted Answer

The wrap wire. Regular Slinky uses nickel-plated steel; Cobalt Slinky uses a cobalt-iron alloy. Cobalt is more magnetically reactive than nickel, so Cobalts drive passive pickups harder, about 2–3 dB louder output and a more present upper midrange at the same gauge. Ernie Ball has produced Cobalt Slinky since 2012.

Question 3

Is .012–.056 too heavy for E standard?

Accepted Answer

For most players, yes. On a 25.5-inch scale in E standard, .012–.056 produces 70+ pounds of total tension. It will feel stiff under bends and stressful on a guitar set up for .010s. Use this gauge for Drop C, Drop B, C standard, or D standard. For E standard, drop to Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.046) or Power Slinky Cobalt (.011–.048).

Question 4

Which pro guitarists actually use Cobalt Slinky strings?

Accepted Answer

The Cobalt line spans seven different gauges, Cobalts are a wrap-wire choice, not a single set. Documented users span the whole catalog: J Mascis on .010–.046 (SKU 2721), Dustin Kensrue on Beefy Slinky Cobalt .011–.054 (SKU 2725), Mark Holcomb on 7-string Cobalt .010–.062 (SKU 2730), Keith Merrow and Wes Hauch on 7-string Cobalt in the .009–.062 range. We don't currently have a primary-source citation for any specific artist using this exact .012–.056 6-string set. If you have one, send it, we'll update with credit. The full line-wide Cobalt roster lives at the dedicated guide.

Question 5

Do Cobalts rust or tarnish faster than nickel?

Accepted Answer

Cobalt is more chemically stable than plain steel but less corrosion-resistant than nickel plating. In humid environments you may see slightly faster dulling at the contact points. Wipe them down after every session. If you sweat heavily, move to Paradigm or an Elixir-coated set.

Question 6

Will Cobalt strings magnetize my pickups or damage them?

Accepted Answer

No. The cobalt-iron alloy is more magnetically reactive than nickel, which is why they sound louder through the same pickups, but it doesn't damage or permanently magnetize anything. This is a persistent forum myth. Ernie Ball has shipped Cobalt Slinky for over a decade with no documented pickup issues.

Question 7

What's the best tuning for the .012–.056 Cobalt set?

Accepted Answer

Drop C (C-G-C-F-A-D) and C standard are the sweet spot. The low C at .056 sits at about 16 pounds of tension on a 25.5-inch scale, firm without being stiff. Drop B with this set is playable on a 25.5 but better served by a baritone or .012–.062 (Mammoth Slinky Cobalt). For Drop D or D standard, use .011–.048 or .011–.054 instead.

Question 8

Is this the same set Tim Henson uses?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly. Tim Henson's Polyphia rig uses a lighter Cobalt gauge for his 6-string tuned to F standard. He has a 2025 Ernie Ball signature set (announced at NAMM) that combines Cobalt wrap with Paradigm core-wire tech. Henson has said on record he chose Cobalts because they 'were strong enough to handle aggressive playing.' See our Tim Henson rig page for the full breakdown.

Question 9

How long do Cobalt Slinky strings last?

Accepted Answer

One to three weeks of daily playing before most players notice a drop in brightness, same as uncoated nickel Slinky. The cobalt alloy holds tone slightly longer on the wound strings than pure nickel in our testing, but the plain strings dull at the same rate. For 6–10 week life, step over to Paradigm Slinky.

Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Cobalt (.012–.056) review: the heaviest Cobalt Slinky, explained

Anatomy

Tone

Where this set sits in the Cobalt range

Who plays the Cobalt line

Best for

Worst for

Install and break-in

Verdict

Not Even Slinky Cobalt (.012–.056), 3-pack

Next steps