Hexagonal Core and Round Core Strings

Electric guitar and bass strings are usually made with a core steel wire and a wrapping material. They can have a round or hexagonal core — and which one you choose has a noticeable impact on the sound.

What is a Round Core Guitar String?

This is the original way wrapped guitar strings were made. The wrapping wire maintains 100% contact with the core, increasing the string density for a more balanced sound and better sustain. Use them for a vintage tone when playing early rock, rhythm n’ blues, folk and jazz.

Several notable companies still make round-core guitar strings, including Stringjoy, Thomastik-Infeld, Martin, GHS and Bella. The strings are often wound by hand because making them consistently using machinery is difficult.

What is a Hex Core Guitar String?

First developed to make string manufacturing easier, these six-sided string cores allow the wrap wire to “dig into” the corners. The design creates more tension, giving the strings a stiffer feel, a brighter sound, more consistent tuning and better durability.

Invented in the 1930s, hex cores became the standard for strings during the 1960s and 1970s, forming the basis for modern rock and country. Many string manufacturers nowadays, such as Elixir, D’Addario, Cleartone, Ernie Ball and John Pearse, focus on hex-core guitar strings.

The Best Guitar Strings

Whichever type of guitar string core you prefer, you can order them at Strings and Beyond. This page lists some of the popular round-core strings for guitars that we carry. To find more options, visit our main electric guitar and bass guitar string pages or shop by brand.