| I tend to like the Martin SP Series strings. I am a HEAVY rhythm player and play the 12's. I tried the lighter guages but tend to break too many strings with them. I like like the way "older" strings sound better than new ones, which tend to sound too brite (especially when amplified). so I leave my strings on untill they break. If I have a gig coming up only then I will then replace the whole set a week in advance so they have time to break in, but not yet rust (at the bridge) and they tend to last through the night.
Also when restringing your guitar, be sure to pull on the string when it is almost at pitch so the string pulls tight around the tuning peg. (don't be shy, really yank thoses wound strings, they wont break) It helps the string to reach it's tinsel (sp) point and is much easier to keep in tune as you wont be streatching it as you are playing, and tuning up every other song. When you do this notice the pitch drop after the yank, that is all the excess tuning you are getting rid of |