A core for a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprises a paperboard material wound about an axis and adhered together to form a tubular body, and a polymer film layer wrapped about and adhered to the outer surface of the tubular body so as to form a tape-receiving surface upon which adhesive tape is to be wound. The polymer film layer has an overlap joint between the opposite edges of the polymer film ply. A recessed region is formed in the outer surface of the tubular body, the recessed region being recessed radially inwardly relative to the cylindrical outer surface. At least a portion of the length of the overlapping edge of the polymer film ply extends into and terminates in the recessed region such that the overlapping edge is not contacted by the adhesive tape wound about the core.