Longest lasting strings?

Can't say they're better, but other long-lived strings I've encountered are Thomastik-Infeld, Elixir, and some of the coated strings such as the Black Diamond black coated strings. The DR coated strings seem to be similar but are available in a variety of colors. The coatings protect the string metal from corrosion from sweaty hands. The Thomastik-Infeld PowerBrites aren't plastic-coated, but the alloy on the wound strings seems to hold up very well and the plain strings are brass coated.

 
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I have a set of Thomastik flatwounds on my archtop that seem to last forever. I understand that D'Addario is starting to do the coated electric strings. I've been using their acoustic coated strings for years and love them. You can't tell they're coated other than a little gold-ish cast on the plain strings and you certainly can't feel it. The acoustics settle in almost immediately and hold their tone until they're just about completely worn out. I'm going to have to try some of the electrics sometime soon.

The DR's feel very rough and the coating chips off very easily.

Years ago I used to use some coated stainless strings from Kaman, called Performers. They were very bright and lasted a long time, but chewed up your frets pretty badly. I don't think they're being made any more.

 
For longevity I really like D' Addario EXP coated. Otherwize I like plain jane GHS Boomers as they seem to last longer than standard D'Addario, SIT, Dunlop for me. All strings have lasted longer since I started making sure that my hands are clean and wiping the strings after playing.

 
I've been pretty happy with Elixirs. After a really long time the coating starts to fray but it beats changing strings all the time and they sound fine to me.

 
Years ago I bought a few packs of Vinci brand Class 1 Nickel 677 Light Special 10-46 (I have one pack left) in a hermetically sealed fresh lock baggie, - I can't believe I found this pack in the string gear box so easily.

I haven't been able to find them for years, I have a set on my SS2 that is at least 5 years old, probably a couple years older, I used to play that guitar quite a bit, but now it mostly sits in the soft case. All my other guitars that sit get rough corroded strings, I just pulled the SS2 out, the strings are still super smooth and easy to play, it stays in tune too, plenty good to leave on a guitar that only gets played once in a while. Washburn owned Vinci at that time, I'm guessing usmusiccorp stopped production?

 
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^^^ Since they discontinued Sho Bud ( 1974ish )I just used standard ez to find& cheap strings , fender bullets & ghs boomers keep it clean and change every 2nd or 3rd gig depending on conditions & durations of gigs . elixers for acoustic ( I dont like the way "nickel" strings bend )

 
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The Hubers came from the builder with Elixirs. Seems like a pretty fair "endorsement". I like them, but have not used them exclusively.

I do need to try the TI PowerBrites.

 
I wipe the strings of with a rag after I've played my guitars, most of the time. That makes the strings last longer.

Once I got used to the habbit it's just something I do without even thinking.

 
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