I'm probably a creature of habit, but even after trying all the other strings I always come back to D'Addario. The only other strings that have made an impression on me where the DR's.

These are, in my opinion, a Great all around string for most music styles and have a fairly good life span. I started using the XL's quite a while back as I used 'OTHER' strings which were never available or soon became unavailable at a lot of different places I would play. I like consistancy and would sometimes have to use 'OTHER' brands which were okay but would seem to have different tensioning, etc. which would absolutely affect my tone and feel. The D'Addario XL's excelled in that they felt good, sounded good, are fairly easy on the frets and most of all, were and are available at almost any music store you may find yourself in around the country. And sometimes you never know when you are on tour when that time comes when you may need strings in a big way. The consistancy of them being readily available almost anywhere is a big factor to me because in those situations you can have the same strings that you AND your bass are most use to...To me thats sometimes a priceless asset! I use two basses most of the time, so splitting the workload between the two also give the strings a longer life all the way around as you are not playing one set of strings to death all the time. Great TONE till the Cow's Come Home, In my opinion anyway, but you know what they say about opinion's!!!

These strings are what I use, I play bass for a living for a well known country star. I also do studio work for many diffrent styles of music. The strings are good If you know how to play them. Don't expect any string to make you super man.

I play light with a 1.9mm rounded triangle, and I use a lot of chords and pinch harmonic vibratos in my songs. awesome death squeals, lots of sustain, and despite having a light touch, great tonal depth. I can play with these for a month and still get a great recording sound. they're the best string deal I've ever found--for the price, they can't be beat. IMO, they're as good as those expensive elixers. don't waste your money; but these strings.

I just tried a set after playing D'Addario "Slow Wounds 5;s", for the past three and a half years. Although my chops may not be as lighteneing fast or stellar chops like the professional above me, I gig about three times a week, and try to get a rehearsal in now and then. I just feel the tone dropped from these strings earlier than their departed cousins the slow wounds. "Bring Back the "Slow Wounds", Jim"