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D'Addario XL's all the way. Also my set up guy once told me that since blue steels are Cryogenically processed they are harder then regular strings and wear your frets down faster. I have no idea if this is true or not as I just blindly assumed that he was correct. Anyone know if it's true?
Mmm, I'd say pick tone is more influenced by type of pick and your style then the strings. The tonal differences between the Blue Steels I used to use and the LaBella Roundwounds is negligible...I just have to change how/where I pick and with what pick (my .7 tortex sounds different then my .7 nylon which sounds different from my brass pick).
*Edit:
That being said, I have found the Blue Steels to sound great, as do the LaBella's. DR's are decent, the Black Beauties where my favorite of the DRs, but they are lower tension due to the round core, which is not really my thing. I wasn't impressed with Ernie Ball strings, they lost that nice bright sound within a few days (the Blue Steels took like a couple months to "dull" down, and that was when I was playing for two hours five times a week).
I just put a set on and these things will make grown man cry.. they are just horrendous! anytime fingers touch them they sound like a techno spaceship landed on my 5er, and unfortunately Bart CB PUPs pick it all up.. I mean I am all for saving money but there's gotta be a limit somewhereSurprisingly maybe, or rather lucky for me and my wallet, I like the sound that the Hartke Transient value pack (3 packs for 20 euro) provide when playing with a pick.
The snappy bright sound lasts for weeks ...
Oxymoron?good pick tone

Oxymoron?
Sorry, I just couldn't resist.
Good luck!
(you're going to need it. haha!)
~B
I wasn't impressed with Ernie Ball strings, they lost that nice bright sound within a few days (the Blue Steels took like a couple months to "dull" down, and that was when I was playing for two hours five times a week).