Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Round core and hexagon core
- Thread starter metallibass95
- Start date
String makers say,Hex Core are stiffer, and sound a little deeper. Round Core are more flexable and brighter. I can't really hear much difference in sound,but to me Round Core strings do feel more flexable. Hope this helps answer your question.
Yeah it does thanks man. So by stiffer do you mean more tension? And are most common strings made with round core or hex core?
Yeah,they feel like they have a little more tension to me. Most strings are Hex Core. Some Round Core strings I have tried are,DR Sunbeams,DR Highbeams,Fender 8255's and Fender 8250's. The Fender 8250's have a tapered E & B string though,so I don't think you would want to use them unless your bass strings through the body.
Wow most strings are hex core? thats crazy. I've tried sunbeams before they were pretty smooth sounding. Usually what I play are ErnieBall Slinkys and Rotosound 66 steel strings. Are they both hex core?
Slinkys are round core, not sure about the Rotos. Round cores have less tension than hex cores, as stated already.
I just looked at a Bass Player Magazine String Review from the December 2004 issue. The Rotosound Swing Bass 66 are "Piano Wire Hex Core". The Ernie Ball Slinky Bass Strings are discribed as " Tempered Tin-Plated High Carbon Steel", I would think are a Hex Core as that is pretty much the standard in string design,but they could be Round Core.
Yeah seems ErnieBalls would be round core cause they are flexible and bright. But yeah thats cool about the core of the strings though. Something else i've learned today, lol. Thanks for all the answers.
I hexagonal core is considered by many to be better because the corners dig into the wrap wire creating a tighter and more stable wrap. Here is what D'Addario has to say about it:
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
That is awsome. From what it says it seems the hex cores would have alot better of a sound than round cores. And I am really in love with higher tension strings because where they don't flop around I can really lower my action down on the fret board and not worry about fret buzz or string slap. If I wasn't so into the ErnieBall brightness and twang brand new right outta the pack, I would give D'Addario a try.
And as for good sounding. Well....
That says it all. That's awsome. Very smooth, and especially works well on a modern active bass where you would expect some twangy highs a little bit, those strings keep the smoothness even up on the high notes, almost like passive vintage basses do. Not only that but a good slap bass sound too! Smoothness and good slap tone, 2 for the price of one!
That says it all. That's awsome. Very smooth, and especially works well on a modern active bass where you would expect some twangy highs a little bit, those strings keep the smoothness even up on the high notes, almost like passive vintage basses do. Not only that but a good slap bass sound too! Smoothness and good slap tone, 2 for the price of one!
D'Addario uses a hex core, and they pretty much started it. Ernie Ball also used to tout the advantages of a hex core (duh- of course they did- their strings WERE D'Addario strings!)*
The most direct comparision I've made is playing the same bass strung wtih DR Hi-Beams (stainless wrap on a round core) and Low-Riders (stainless wrap on a hex core) of the same gauges (45/65/85/105). I found the Hi-Beams to be more flexible, have a more balanced sound, and they lasted longer. I used to use D'Addario for EVERYTHING (since 1976) and I used their stainless (XLS-570), original nickel Half Rounds (HR-72), nickle rounds (EXL-165) and my favorite strings of all time, the SloWounds - as well as their guitar strings. I just found I tend to like the DR Hi-Beams or Sunbeams (nickel with a round core) better.
* In the '80s Ernie Bal was D'Addario's west-coast warehouse, EB didn't own a string making machine, their plastic envelopes were identical to D'Addarios, but much different from GHS and GHS-made string with other brands, while identical to other D'Addario-made brands, they both introduced phosphor bronze acoustic stirngs at the same time, both advertised the advantages of a hex core, and both had standard bass set gauges that were different from almost every other maker. For example, D'Addario and EB both call the regular medium gauge bass set 50/70/85/105. Both called a light set 45/65/80/100, and they eventually came out with a 45/65/85/105 set but called it either "Light Top/Heavy Bottom" (D'Addario) or "Hybrid Slinky" (EB).
I've been told that they own their own string machine now, so they might be using round cores now, but I wouldn't bet on it.
jte
The most direct comparision I've made is playing the same bass strung wtih DR Hi-Beams (stainless wrap on a round core) and Low-Riders (stainless wrap on a hex core) of the same gauges (45/65/85/105). I found the Hi-Beams to be more flexible, have a more balanced sound, and they lasted longer. I used to use D'Addario for EVERYTHING (since 1976) and I used their stainless (XLS-570), original nickel Half Rounds (HR-72), nickle rounds (EXL-165) and my favorite strings of all time, the SloWounds - as well as their guitar strings. I just found I tend to like the DR Hi-Beams or Sunbeams (nickel with a round core) better.
* In the '80s Ernie Bal was D'Addario's west-coast warehouse, EB didn't own a string making machine, their plastic envelopes were identical to D'Addarios, but much different from GHS and GHS-made string with other brands, while identical to other D'Addario-made brands, they both introduced phosphor bronze acoustic stirngs at the same time, both advertised the advantages of a hex core, and both had standard bass set gauges that were different from almost every other maker. For example, D'Addario and EB both call the regular medium gauge bass set 50/70/85/105. Both called a light set 45/65/80/100, and they eventually came out with a 45/65/85/105 set but called it either "Light Top/Heavy Bottom" (D'Addario) or "Hybrid Slinky" (EB).
I've been told that they own their own string machine now, so they might be using round cores now, but I wouldn't bet on it.
jte
I had great experiencies with both round and hex. I dont think any is empirically better than the other, its a matter of taste.
