Hex Core VS Round Core Guitar Strings Which is Better ?

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[ashscott]

"Cheaper to make" is all you need to know. The sound is subjective. In the hands of marketers, "Shrill" becomes "Bright", "Dull" or "Muddy" becomes "Warm" or "Vintage". So any strings you make, you can describe in a positive way. Therefore: Make the cheapest strings, then use word-magic to sell them. Imma sell strings made from the wire outta burnt tires. It will have a very velvety tone with a buttery note and a woody aftertaste.

[RockStarOscarStern]

There are Octagonal Core strings too. How about Flex-Hex Core strings? They're basically Hex Core strings that have been specially formulated to allow for bends.

[chriskettlewell]

I use round core strings. DR Pure Blues. After going through so many brands I finally found these and they are so much better than anything else I’ve ever played. They definitely last longer. I don’t have to change very often at all. They might be a bit less bright when first put on, but they don’t then go fuller after that like most other strings do. I’ve never had to change old strings because they’ve sounded dull.

[catmandoodoo]

I’m no cork sniffer but I’ve found my favourites to be stainless steel round-core in 9.5-44. The stainless steel seems to counter some of the dullness of the round core and means they last almost as long as the coated strings I used to use. I also really like the feel. I get mine from Newtone Strings here in the U.K.

[OaNautilus]

I use GHS boomers, gilmour red on my les paul, and ernie ball cobalt 10s, GHS 10s or Blue steel 10s on most other guitars i have. never really tought about which core type they have, just chose strings i thought felt and sound good on a given instrument.

[jorgegvb]

Thanks for sharing that video how they make guitar strings. I don’t think I ever saw that done before.

[nicholassakamoto]

I currently use D’Addario XL Guitar strings, which I used to use Nickel Plated Steel strings, but now I use XL Chromes, which are flatwound strings, and more difficult to bend, especially the Jazz Light Gauge.😊

[jcmcclain]

Nice topic and timely for me. I am in the process of redefining my tone on bass guitar and this is a big point that I am exploring. I like old school tone... but really dig thumping it as well. There are no rules for what you must have, it is all about finding and crafting your own tone/sound. While I can thump hex core flat wounds, it will not sound anything like hex core round wounds, and I believe, conversely nothing like round core round wounds. I recently acquired some DR Pure Blues that will be my first venture into round/round, have no idea of how I will sound on those strings, but Victor Wooten sounds amazing on those strings. Good to note his gauge is completely custom with the lean toward light gauge. My set is straight up medium. Don’t know the answer, but I am going to find out.

[terran]

stiffer feel is good for lower tuning frankly. I love my Elixirs on my guitar. Its tuned to drop C but its got 12-42 plus a 68. That's about 20lbs per string of tension. going below that tension feels like noodles to me. For reference, my 7 string is 25.5" inch scale with 11-49 plus a 74 tuned to drop A, stiff as hell, but thats how you get those "piano" tones. It all depends what each person wants artistically. There is no better frankly. Since elixirs are coated being hex with dead air is a non issue.

[kevinerickson]

I have been using ghs round wound strings for years. Just bought a new guitar that had hex core strings on it and loved it. Put my normal round wounds on and was a little disappointed. Going to try the hex again.

[Chrisuk]

I find the hex core to be stiffer more tension and they feel harder to bend, I prefer round core strings they feel softer under my fingers, I use DR blues or GHS boomers (Nickel) with round core inner wire. 🙂 ymmv

[millstap]

The main reason I watched this video was I was wondering if anyone has done an actual experiment on the physics of the vibration of a hex vs. round core string. I hypothesize that round core strings vibrate more truly than hex core strings. I can't really define "truly." I'm meaning more of a true sine wave. What made me notice this is that I play a lot of Hendrix. He used very light strings (10-38) which tend to slap around on big open string notes (on a properly set up Strat). Nothing sounds as bad as an open note buzzing on the frets. I had some Hendrix gauge Pyramid round core strings that sat around for a year. When I put them on, I noticed that those big open string notes didn't buzz against the frets much, if any. They sounded very "round" to me. I think that full wound/core wire contact is what makes the difference in the vibration of the string. The problem is, is that I wear out the D winding fairly quickly. When I put on a hex core D replacement, I immediately noticed the stiffness and brightness of the hex D string. Any thoughts on this?

[mrbungle]

I use GHS Boomers, round core, very comfortable for bendings.

[terryjones]

Have you tried Black Diamond CoreBond strings yet?

[amritjanardhanan]

I tried entire ball standard 10s and GHS Burnished nickel rockers. The Ernie balls were very metallic sound and turned flubby sounding after a month. The GHSs started out a bit bright the turned flubby.

[duncandistortion]

I usually use hex core 'ernie ball' slinky, but have tried some round core 'pyramid' superior & immediately noticed the round cores sound dull so i'll be going back to hex core.

[clintoncraft]

I’ll say that I love D’Addario Helicore strings on bass and viola. Long lasting, full tone with the brightness some bodies need.

[Jeff.on.bass]

For bass I play both core types, I find the round core to be slightly 'looser' feeling which can be easier on your right hand plucking fingers over longer periods of playing time

[HillsongBrussel]

Will the strings 'buzz' quicker with Round wound vs Hexcore? On my MM stingray bass, the B buzz very quickly. So better stay on the Hexcore for the Stingray? And would a bigger B string buzz less than a small core?

[RockStarOscarStern]

What if they made Hex Core strings that are formulated to emulate the sound of Round Core Strings by adding damping Materials between the core and wrap wire?