MM--I re-string every 6 months. Settle down! I'm not a rich American, I just appropriate available funds for the most 'important' things! So, I don't know about the longevity aspect.

I do find that I have to do very little tuning when I get to a jam. In fact, most people usually tune to me.

Onlyme- you must be talking about new undies eh? Stretching after one use is nooo problem.

The eagle who walks--Julie