for your vintage tone, what do you prefer and why?

Massimo Pafumi
Jaguar & The Savanas facebook
Jaguar & The Savanas web

Hex-core for sure. I like to go against the grain when I surf. It's like riding a wave when I use my hex-core Elixir strings through my Jay Turser surf caster played through my Line 6 Spyder amp with a Holy Grail pedal and complete line of Carl Martin effects.

I challenge anyone to say my tone isn't a perfect surf tone. Check out a clip of us below.

http://tinyurl.com/a8k9wp

It's a great track. It is in the 99th percentile of quality surf music. Great playing.

When i was learning to play around late 1960s my guitars both accoustics and electrics broke strings on a regular basis. Mainly Rotosound or Ernie Ball strings because that's all that was available to me at the time. I don't seem to break any strings these days, i've been using either GHS or D'Addario who are both large manufacturers with good reseach and development programs, advanced computerised tools etc. It begs the question can the smaller traditional string maker compete in terms of consistency and reliability. I'm willing to try some Pyramid strings but i'd guess i'll soon be back to the D'Addario Chromes (with hex core) simply because of the smoothness they offer.

Crumb, you probably won't be back to Chromes if you are able to hear good tone. What is the smoothness you talk about? Smooth tone or smooth to the touch?

Jaguar, a lot of surf people are unknowingly using round core strings. Most don't know, but that is why we love makers such as Thomastik and Pyramid, amongst others. And people who play with hex core just can't tell the difference in tone and in feel.

And in honesty, those surf fans who aren't great musicians would probably prefer hex-core because they can't distinguish good tone and because they are stiffer strings and they need stiffer strings to be able to double pick properly. Notice how some guitarists prefer obscenely heavy strings?

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 21:42:17

crumb
I'm willing to try some Pyramid strings but i'd guess i'll soon be back to the D'Addario Chromes (with hex core) simply because of the smoothness they offer.

pyramids are dead cheap for those in Europe -
http://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_gold_011048.htm you should give them a try. They feel a lot smoother than chromes. but I could see how some would prefer the chromes.

It begs the question can the smaller traditional string maker compete in terms of consistency and reliability.

Yes of course. for any other industry you'd exept the higher quality from a smaller company. or maybe you should adjust your view of the Pyramidcompany? these are not handmade strings rolled between the thighs of Bayern virgins, nor are they made from the scrapmetal collected by ole grandpop Pyramid. Afaik their corebusiness is strings for classical instruments, which should say something about their attention to quality and tone.

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

WR

crumb
I'm willing to try some Pyramid strings but i'd guess i'll soon be back to the D'Addario Chromes (with hex core) simply because of the smoothness they offer.

pyramids are dead cheap for those in Europe -
http://www.thomann.de/gb/pyramid_gold_011048.htm you should give them a try. They feel a lot smoother than chromes. but I could see how some would prefer the chromes.

It begs the question can the smaller traditional string maker compete in terms of consistency and reliability.

Yes of course. for any other industry you'd exept the higher quality from a smaller company. or maybe you should adjust your view of the Pyramidcompany? these are not handmade strings rolled between the thighs of Bayern virgins, nor are they made from the scrapmetal collected by ole grandpop Pyramid. Afaik their corebusiness is strings for classical instruments, which should say something about their attention to quality and tone.

Ok i can see the pack now.. it says "Made in Germany" .. my string theory sucks i know it What's your opinion of half rounds

jaguar

zak
Round core for sure.
As for "why" I explained it in detail HERE

Zak, really good article!

So, until the seventies/eighties, all the strings had a round-core.

This seems that all the songs from the fifties and the sixties were played with round-core.

So my question is: if we are in loved of vintage equipment, why don't play with a round-core? All the music from that period was played with round-core... There are tons of songs played with round-core.

Some of you have recorded the same song with round and with hex-core?

I'll only weigh in with this. A few years ago I had some tendon problems in my left arm. These were related to impingement syndrome from a bone spur and was relieved surgically. Before the surgery I was doing everything in my power to make it easier to play bass without a flare up. I found out that Warwick black-label strings were round core and they did seem a bit easier on the arm. It wasn't a huge dramatic difference but there did seem to be a percepatable change with round core . . . at least on a bass. Once the surgery was over I used a double bass as physical therapy for the arm.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

I found this youtube of the D'Addario factory. I'm surprised how low tech the process is, you can clearly see the hex wire being wound.

How Guitar Strings Are Made
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8U-vZLZKgJc