I think it depends upon the guitar. I have an Epiphone dreadnaught which sounds good with Vinci Phosphor Bronze Extra Light strings. It didn't sound so good with D'Adario strings of the same weight. It sounded downright dead with Tomastiks.

On the other hand I bought this parlor-sized guitar at a pawn shop. It is at its best with Tomastik 110 (the lightest) strings. D'Adarios and Vinci extra-light sound too harsh. Of course, this instrument has much lighter bracing.

I would like to add a question to this thread. What is your favorite "sissie" medium strings? I still tend to get sore fingers with D'Adario and Vincis. On the other hand these extra-light ones I am using get too floppy when I tune down a note (eg for open or dropped D tuning.)

Finally, a story brought back to memory by Roger's posting. In the 50s I lived in Philadelphia and there was a high-school student who was a prodigy on the violin. He played as concertmaster in the all Phila orchestra and was given a Strad on loan.

With the Strad he was given instructions to take good care of it, and especially not to let it out of his hands.

Well the All Philly was accompanying Stern playing a violin concerto. During the concerto Stern's string broke.

It is the custom for somebody in the first desk to give the soloist his/her fiddle to continue playing and to replace the string on the soloist's instrument as quickly as possible.

Now you have probably guessed what happened. Stern reached for the Strad and the young fiddler held onto it for dear life, remembering his instructions.

I won't say it was the highlight of the concert; but it is the only thing I remember.

Murray