D'Addario EXL110W Nickel Regular Light Wound 3rd Electric Guitar Strings  

The wound third (G) on this set is the key feature, and it makes a big difference to the overall tone.  It also solved a bothersome tuning problem.

I've been very satisfied with the life of these strings.  I seldom break one, they keep bright tone for a long time.  Just wipe 'em down after every performance and you'll probably double the string life.  They may not last as long as treated/coated strings, but the other factors make these my strings of choice.

I hope D'Addario makes these available in bulk sets soon.  Until then I'll pay the low price a set for individual sets, still a bargain.  Even in the stores they're one of the best values on the shelf.

I recently bought a Carvin SH550, paid a lot for this custom guitar.  I was so tickled when it came in.  I plugged it in, tuned it up and played.  I was disappointed, didn't sound right.  Tried playing with settings on my amp, tone controls, etc.  Just wasn't right...  sounded out of tune, I couldn't figure it out, because intonation was dead on, it has locking tuners...  After a couple of weeks of wondering if I just got a lemon somehow, I re-strung with a set of D'Addario EXL 110w's I had in my Telecaster case.  Buddy, that was the secret!  The guitar sounds, plays like I knew it should...  The wound G holds better tune.  The fact that it doesn't bend like some guitarists want makes it hold better tune if you don't fret it precisely right, I guess that's it.  I should also say that I'm primarily an acoustic player, maybe the wound G feels better.  I definitely like the tonal characteristics better when chording, and I play mostly rhythm.  But even when I'm running scales or picking little licks, the wound G sounds great.  I will never go to another set of strings again.  I'm sold.