EB Pino Paladino Smoothie Flats - Bargain ?

[edstraker123]

Never tried these but they currently look like they are at an excellent price on Amazon : £46 for the extra light set and £54 for the medium. Bass Direct currently have them at £89 and others for more.

Hopefully worth a punt.....

Edited November 17, 2025 by edstraker123

[fretmeister]

Did we find out if they are a Cobalt type or another type of flat?

[ezbass]

2 minutes ago, fretmeister said:

Did we find out if they are a Cobalt type or another type of flat?

From the EB website:

 

Pino Palladino Signature Smoothie Flats Bass Strings are engineered for a smooth, effortless playing experience. Precision-polished for an ultra-smooth feel, these premium flatwound strings glide easily under your fingers. Wound with a cobalt alloy ribbon, they deliver a deep, rich tone that perfectly blends vintage warmth with modern flexibility.

 

I think means that they are the same wrap construction as the normal Cobalts, as the description of these reads:

Featuring a SuperBright Cobalt ribbon wrap, Cobalt underwraps and optimal hex-core to wrap ratio,

 

Although no mention of the under wrap on the PP set.

 

[fretmeister]

Thank you.

 

Despite the bargain I'll pass then. I had some short scale Cobalts and I didn't get on with them at all.

Just felt really weird under my fingers!

[edstraker123]

Wow - these are smooth ! Feel really high end. Definitely glad I purchased. I'm going back for more !

[oakforest5961]

44 minutes ago, edstraker123 said:

Wow - these are smooth ! Feel really high end. Definitely glad I purchased. I'm going back for more !

 

All well and good, but... what about the sound? Flatwounds tend to have issues with cross string consistency; how are these. BTW, which set did you buy?

[edstraker123]

I went with the extra lights. I'd read on another forum the heavier gauge were primarily for drop tunings ( not sure of the validity of that claim.) Unfortunately I put them on a new bass which is a Xmas present - it was confiscated 5 minutes after the set up so didn't get a chance to test them to make a proper opinion sound wise but they sounded great through the Spark Neo and certainly good enough to want to put them on other higher end basses 

[edstraker123]

Extra light prices have gone back up to £83 - mediums are still cheap. Going to try a on a jazz and  a Ricky.

Edited November 19, 2025 by edstraker123

[Reggaebass]

Ive got so many flats in a box as that’s all I use,  I’ve been using labella LTF’s for years, and recently got some labella Olinto, but I’d really like to try these Pino ones, how do they sound and feel 

[edstraker123]

I'll update you when I put them on the other basses. They feel fantastic, smoother than any other flats I've played and low tension so really nice to play.