I used D'Addarios for years. Tried Elixirs for the first time last fall because I heard they were supposed to last for months and I was coming to Antarctica where I couldn't get strings easily. I wore out a set of mediums in about 7 weeks, fuzzy goretex hanging off the windings, etc. I liked the sound of the mediums OK, not earthshaking, but definitely didn't suck. The lights I replaced them with sounded a bit translucent and twangy, especially for the first 10 hours. They've mellowed now but don't compare to the mediums, which I tune down a whole step to keep from pulling the top up on my Martin. I'm anxious to check out the D'Addarios when I get home