This may sound weird to a relatively new picker but to those seasoned lifelong addicts, familiar. I can't hardly play new strings, in fact untill the strings are on there at least 6 months, no chord/tunes sound right. The strings need at least a coating of grease and crud to get em vibrating well. I think certain kinds of debris would be better than others.

I notice if I get auto repair debris on them it deadens em. Also noticed when I use a heavy gauge pick and really lean on em they will later play well. Suppose all the wrong kinds of crud falls off and the right adheres :) Strings at 1 year are at their best and 2 years its time to replace em.

Before I get walloped - there was a time when I could not afford to replace em but once a year that's how I found out.