I tried Ernie Ball slinkys didn't like the tones and feel of them. I have used D 'Addario now for 5 years, and I am a bit of a heavy picker I would say. I have never had a string break using them. I like the tones and get long use, I play 2 hrs a day plus do the odd gig, realizing I play 4 guitars I can go average 2 months of playing before the strings get dull, then that's when I change them. I'm going to stick with them, why quit a good thing.