I hadn't tried Elixers before, but just got a Santa Cruz OM/PW which came with a set. I like the lower finger noise, but kind of miss the phosphor bronze twang, rattle that can sometimes occur. I haven't had the heart to take the elixer's off and put on a regular set of Martin marquis. I believe I have a set of light guages on the new guitar, and think the high E is a bit too light for my taste (slips off the finger board if I'm not careful).