I stopped using them. They sound good, and I found they last forever, but I don;t like the feel. I know they are rated the same thinkness, but they just feel smaller to me, and the bend a little too easy. That may be why people find they are difficult to tune (because they are bending a bit under your fingers). I never broke one, but I haven't broken a strin yet on my Larrivee (don;t know why - I play it hard enough)!