cobra coil strings

Instruments, mechanical issues, copedents, techniques, etc.

Moderator: Shoshanah Marohn

Post Reply
Larry Hobson
Posts: 183
Joined: 6 Feb 2017 9:29 am
Location: Valley Grande (Selma) Al USA

cobra coil strings

Post by Larry Hobson »

Anyone have any experience with cobra coil strings? Good bad ugly,or don't know. I really could use some advise ,I think.
Paul Norman
Posts: 2600
Joined: 18 Mar 2005 1:01 am
Location: Washington, North Carolina, USA

Post by Paul Norman »

The Forum sells strings to help keep this posting going. There is a choice of several main brands , including the ones Buddy Emmons used.
Go to the top of the page where it say strings and click on it.

They do not have Cobra Coil.
Cobra Coil is a good String.
User avatar
John Brock
Posts: 307
Joined: 1 Jul 2011 10:45 am
Location: Xenia, Ohio

Cobra coil

Post by John Brock »

I always liked them..when I bought first gfi from Bobbe at SGN Vic putem on and sent it..Iever happier......going to get some more soon ....Bakersfield sound...nuff said...God Bless
GFI S10 Nashville 400 Epiphone J200 Kentucky BM650 Mandolin Fender 112 Alvarez 5018 12
Rus-Ler Deluxe
Mike Schwartzman
Posts: 426
Joined: 22 Sep 2008 8:21 am
Location: Maryland, USA

Post by Mike Schwartzman »

Even though I'm using a different brand now, I've used Cobra Coils in the past and I thought they were very good strings. I can't speak about the Stainless Steel sets, But the Nickle Cobra Coil set was nice.
Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele.
Don C. Smith
Posts: 9
Joined: 26 Nov 2013 7:52 am
Location: Oklahoma, USA

Cobra Coil Strings

Post by Don C. Smith »

Started out trying different strings but kept breaking different ones, so I've known Vic
for years and he told me to try Cobra Coils and have had nothing but great results.
Larry Hobson
Posts: 183
Joined: 6 Feb 2017 9:29 am
Location: Valley Grande (Selma) Al USA

cobra coil strings

Post by Larry Hobson »

Mike, Was there something about them that caused you to change brands other than the usual curiosity about another brand? Also, is rusty stainless stainless? I have some with rusty spots.
Dana Blodgett
Posts: 709
Joined: 25 Aug 2010 1:07 pm
Location: California, USA

cobra coil

Post by Dana Blodgett »

I've used them for several years,can't tell the difference between them and George L's. In fact Bobbe told me they were the same. I've broken a total of four strings (G#) on E9 in 8 yrs....sometimes I think it's the string!? I broke two in a row back to back re-string the old Sho-Bud a while back...it's good to have back up.
I like them and will still use them as long as I can find them,if not I'll use George L's.
Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme
User avatar
Henry Matthews
Posts: 3974
Joined: 7 Mar 2002 1:01 am
Location: Texarkana, Ark USA

Post by Henry Matthews »

Maybe I had a bad set but friend gave me a set several years back to try. Put them on my Emmons Legrand E 9th neck and they felt like spaghetti even when tuned up to pitch. Played them 30 minutes and took them off and put S.I.T.'s back on.
Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
Mike Schwartzman
Posts: 426
Joined: 22 Sep 2008 8:21 am
Location: Maryland, USA

Post by Mike Schwartzman »

I think I had ordered a couple of Cobra Coil sets when I placed an order for some accessories with Steel Guitars of Nashville more than a few years ago, Larry.

I put them on and enjoyed their tone and durability. At that time I tried out the Jagwire brand after the CC's because b0b sold all of the various sets and individual Jagwire strings right here on The Forum.

Then after Jagwires became scarce for a while (I think because there was a family illness?)...I was able to get a custom set for E9th and C6th from Sid at Live Steel Strings and have been getting those strings for the last several years, and I haven't felt any reason to switch brands since.

Larry...I don't think I'd put on any string that had rust on it. Advanced oxidation is a broken string waiting to happen.
Emmons Push Pull, BMI, Session 400, Home of the Slimcaster Tele.
User avatar
Damir Besic
Posts: 12261
Joined: 30 Oct 2000 1:01 am
Location: Nashville,TN.
Contact:

Post by Damir Besic »

I played S.I.T. for years, after I moved to Nashville I moved to CC, no other reason but the fact that Bobbe was in town selling CC strings.... never noticed any big difference, and CC worked just fine for me for years, and still do... no matter what strings I use, I always sound the same, never noticed different brand of strings caused any difference in my playing or my tone... YMMV
User avatar
Joshua Tschetter
Posts: 234
Joined: 27 Jun 2013 10:52 am
Location: Missouri

Post by Joshua Tschetter »

Always used them...always loved Them! Never any problems...and great tone🎶🎵🔊
Larry Hobson
Posts: 183
Joined: 6 Feb 2017 9:29 am
Location: Valley Grande (Selma) Al USA

cobra coil strings

Post by Larry Hobson »

Thanks for the input yall,That's about the way I see it too. But, I still would like to know why stainless rust?
Darrell Birtcher

stains on stainless

Post by Darrell Birtcher »

Regarding the stains...

"Stainless" only refers to the wrap wire on wound strings unless there's an exception I don't know about. The inner cores of stainless wound strings and the plain strings of a stainless set are not made of stainless steel.

That said, stainless will still tarnish. It still has iron in it, but it has a higher nickel content which tends to somewhat offset iron's propensity to oxidize in the presence of water. If it didn't have iron in it, it wouldn't have much affect on the magnetic field generated by the pickup, and would generate very little sound.
Post Reply