The Steel Guitar Forum

For those of you who have tried both brands, can you tell us what differences you found? This isn't meant to start a fight over which brand is best, I'm just curious to know how different the Cobra Coils sound, compared to both Jagwire Stainless Wound and Jagwire Nickel Wound strings.

Lee, from South Texas

Lee, Both are great strings.I've used both.

Thanks, Kenny! I know they're both great brands of strings. I'm curious to know if there are any differences in the tone produced by the three different types of wound strings.

It's up to every player to decide which strings /guitars /amps ,etc . that he likes the best in my opinion . You may find out that there are just a few makers of strings and that the ones you like better may be made by the same company ! I'm told that there is only three or four string makers if that ! Please advise if you can ! G.P.

It may be true that there are only a few string makers, but I seriously doubt that, in this day of advanced technology, that they would be limited to only making one kind of string.

Metal formulations can be rather diverse for music wire. I believe a manufacturer can produce a variety of formulations from which to choose. The theory that electric guitar strings are all the same is, IMHO, plainly incorrect, and misguided.

Sure, there may be some brands that use the same strings, and merely rebrand them, but I don't think it's as commonplace as some would think.

Mike - for the most part they don't make just one type, but they certainly don't make seperate types for each "label". Especially with plain strings, the differences are things like ball attachment; there are some different alloys, but only a few are pratical for guitar string use, so (again, mainly with plain strings) differences are almost zero - just as there are few real string "manufacturers", there are few makers of plain steel wire made for that use - it's not a huge market.

I've had family in the wire and cable business for decades, and there's a steep reverse-pyramid: at the top, a small number of wire makers; a few more "string manufacturers"; and a ton of "labels".

When it comes down to wound strings, there are several types - but not many types made for single labels. The tooling cost would be astronomical. You read about "hex core" strings; those are not made to individual specs; if so the strings would cost you $25 each. So there's a ton of marketing jargon involved in all facets of the string business - using different words to say the same thing; "cryogenically treated", "manufactured under controlled temperatures", "scientifically processed", bla bla bla...

Coated strings are another matter, with some coating done at the manufacturer and some at the "label", since it's not really an integral part of the string making. Elixir started it,and it didn't take long for others to figure out it wasn't that exotic or complicated and come out with their own similar versions, with the asssociated marketing hype.

String winding is an expensive proposition,and very few companies can shell out the capital to buy Vinci's machines or have their own built. You need a lot of cash flow and in most cases it takes a history in the industry to have that - so "new" brands and specialty brands (steel guitar strings, for example) that generate small volume can't support the cost of self-manufacturing.

As I recall, at last count the following were the actual manufacturers of strings known in the "west". There are also at least a couple in China and perhaps Korea:

D'Addario, Martin, D'Aquisto, GHS, Dean Markley, Ernie Ball, Fender, Thomastik-Infeld, Gibson, LaBella, Mapes, Pyramid, RotoSound, S.I.T., Savarez, Vinci. & D.R. Some of them use machines made by Vinci, who were reportedly the first ones to develop a practical string-winding machine.

Most "house brand" strings are just off the shelf stuff like Boomers, Slinkies, Fender 150's etc. in a different package; Other "name" brands may have stuff made to spec, to a point; meaning several brands may have the same "spec" string, but with different ball windings, colors, yarn, etc.

Everly made a big splash a couple years ago about their high-tension winding system, factory in Burbank Ca, etc etc...then the address turned out to also be that of Cleartone Strings (with "EMP" treatment!) and one or two others in a small industrial park warehouse. Oops.

Like I said - marketing has a LOT to do with string production!

Well, there may be only a small selection of different types of strings from a few wire makers; nevertheless, both Cobra Coils and Jagwires do seem to be different from other strings, and from each other. Cobras are said to be made with a cobalt steel alloy not normally used for guitar strings, which was specially selected to handle the repeated bending of pedal steel strings. I don't know if that applies to the unwounds, cores and windings. The wound Cobras clearly have a duller look than other stainless steel strings. So I would say they are genuinely different. To me they sound like other stainless steel strings, maybe slightly warmer, but not like nickel wound strings.

The Jagwires also seem to be different than other strings I have tried. When winding strings, I usually cut the string to the proper length, poke the end through the winding post hole, give it a yank at a sharp angle to put a kink in it at the hole, and then wind away. With the smaller gauge Jagwires (0.0115 and 0.012) this didn’t work. They would not make a kink that would hold. I had to double the string around the post and put it through the hole twice. To me this indicates they are more flexible and/or harder than all the other strings I have tried. They are somehow different, and they do seem to last longer without breaking.

So even if there are only a few wire makers with limited selections, these two string brands seem to choose something different than other string brands.

As for the tone comparison between Cobras and Jagwires, the Jagwires seem to be slightly brighter. But that could be in my head. I don’t know that I could tell them apart in a blind test.

Lee, I recently bought a few sets of Cobras that I haven't even used yet, but did give a set to Norman about 3 weeks ago. I asked him a few days ago how he liked them, he said he liked them but couldn't tell much of a difference in tone..and he has a very good ear. I've got an extra set if you want to try them.

Ward, you wouldn't happen to be talking about Norman Newton would you? I am from the valley and remember him and Kenneth tearing it up at the local establishments. A great steel and fiddle player too.

Ronnie

And by the way to keep on the thread. I use cobra coil and am quite happy with them. Bobbe Seymour graciously gave me a couple of sets last time in Nashville and they work well for me.

Ronnie

Hi Ronnie - Yep, that Norman. He's still at it, playing steel and fiddle for 3 different bands right now, playing that same old pretty red Sho Bud.

Thanks Jim . You said it better than i did . I might add also that it seems that everyone doesn't hear the same way if that makes any sense . For example i installed a major brand pickup on one of my guitars and i could hear a big difference and a friend of mine said he couldn't hear any difference at all . Go figure ! There are a lot of great strings out there so be happy with what you hear for yourself . Remember it's all in what makes you happy not for me or anyone else ! It seems that we are always looking for something that makes us sound better could it be ??????? Fill in the rest .

C'mon Lee, take me up on that free set of Cobras!

Lee is a trust banker by trade. I visited his office on business, his sales pitch was all about how his bank was built on trust. So he hands me the paper and pen to sign on the dotted line...the pen is chained to the desk! I ask him, if this bank is built on trust, why is this pen chained to the desk?! Lee????

Actually I'm leg humping, hoping for that low (no) interest loan.

Bump^^

To me the Jagwires sound better and last longer. I am using them on both steels, my Tele, and my Takamine.

The Jagwire's sound a little better\brighter to me than Cobra Coils. This is on an 8 string lap, not a pedal though.

The Jagwire is a more brighter to me than Cobra Coil.

I've tried Ernie Ball, Jagwire, SIT, Cobra Coil, George l's, GHS and definitely i prefer the SIT String (Nickel Plated for more Bass Response).

When the batch is good usually I buy 20 set in advance

In any brand sometimes there are bad batch and I change the company for a short period of time that the new stock arrive.

Ouf ... I practice my English

I have used both, but mainly I use Cobra Coils, I have been very pleased with the consistency as well as life. The Jagwires are fine too but I started using them much later and pretty much couldn't find a good reason to change. Sound wise I pretty much have nothing to add, I change strings often so they all sound good to me....

Currently I'm using Frenchy's Steel Mill & George L Nickel Wound but I have tried the two brands mentioned also. The Cobra Coils are great strings for me but I didn't have good luck with the Jagwires. I sell George L, FSM & GHS brands.

My personal opinion is that for me, the Jagwire Nickel makes my Sierra tone a little nicer, but for my Fender, it really doesn't matter so much which string I use, I get great tone regardless. This is just my perception, of course.

Here's a reason to get Jagwires: the Sarah Jory set has a picture of Sarah Jory on it.

Bill Stafford told me his brother works with metal and makes his srings for him and they are different from others, smoother in sound.

ernie

I like Michael's answer!

I have tried all the above but for my personal taste I prefer Frenchie's Steel Mill Nickel wound. SIT's if I can't get FSM's. Stainless strings are too bright IMO and create more bar noise.

.013 .015 .0115 .014 .018 .020 .026 .030 .034 .036

JW

I tired of the Jagwire sound , too metalic and no smoothness, I prefer SIT as they don't tarnish , the plain stay clean and not go black like Jagwire, over all a much better string IMHO

When BOTH, Cobra Coil AND Jagwire strings first came out for sale, they were horrible, I sold both and had folks bringing them back in droves, Mike Sweeney came in the store one day with a hand full of Jagwires he had bought from me(before the Danny Hoolihan purchase of the company) and was mad because every string broke while being installed, Bill Johnson had the same problem and was just as angry, the first month of Cobra Coils weren't a lot better, however, today and after much research by the company, Cobra Coil is about the best and prefered by the most discriminating pro players, However, in quanity sold, Jags have all brands beat I feel, and must be very fine strings, Danny wouldn't have it any other way.
Cobra Coil strings do NO marketing and produces its strings in low quanities to assure the highest quality and to be exclusive to its professional players.
I'm positive that both now are the greatest strings available at this time in the industry, you will not go wrong with either. Which one is better? The one you are buying!

There are a couple of other brands that are great, but there sure are some that aren't so good. We have to string up several steels a day, so we develope a taste for good wires.

We have folks call often and say things like, "hey, my steel just started breaking strings", My reply,,,,It's not the steel, it's the strings,
My advice? Buy Jags or Cobra coil and you'll have no string problems.

Bobbe.