This was my first time trying Jazz/Blues strings because I mostly play metal to "shredding" but was after a new in-expensive tone so comparing them to GHS, Fender and normal D'Addario Nickle Wound..ect these have more grip on the first 3 strings (E,B,G) and a lower tone that I was after. They cost roughly the same as a set of 9s so if I didn't like them it wasn't a "gamble" like an expensive new pickup.

I was skeptical at first playing my warlock unplugged mostly because I've used normal nickle round strings not blues style but after re-stringing it with a set on at first like they just changed the box! But plugged in you will hear a difference! Maybe not at first but wait for the new string sound to fade to some point and play the same thing on two similar looking electrc guitars (plugged in preferably) and you will.. im usually the kind of person to say a string is a string but these are different.

I have one of my guitars set up with these strings, and I had a lighter gauge on another one, and I don't want to play my other guitar until I get a set of these on there. The only electric guitar strings I want to use anymore.

I have been using D'Addario Jazz Light strings for the last 8 years, having tried Ernie Ball, Everly, and Fender strings. In those 8 years I have never had a D'Addario break, and that includes the set that was on my "drunk guy throws wrench at" guitar. Put through a coil-tapped L-500XL these things have harmonics and sustain that would make Mother Teresa blush.

As one reviewer stated using the same strings for six months, I would not recommend that much duration with any string. That being said, I use many gauges of the XL series for standard and baritone guitars and have found them to be the longest lasting in terms of tone and breakage. I do agree with the reviewer in reference to Ernie Balls breaking a lot. In over 10 years, 3-5 playing sessions a week, and switching to D'Addarios, I have prob had 2 strings break. Bridge saddle rough spots are usually the culprit, or abuse, vs. string quality as a whole. As with anything regarding instruments and sound, taste is individual and therefore I will mainly minimize my comments to the excellent longevity of these and all gauges of their electric strings. As far as my taste in their tone, they def meet my needs for heavy music. These brighten up the tone of my baritone guitars just right to accent the presence with both active and passive pickups.

For fingerstyle they sound great. I love the wound third nice rich almost acoustic sound with my Epiphone Joe Pass hollow body. Also, Just what the doctor ordered for the mucky midrange, reverb swamp in my Hot Rod Deville.