I tried the XT P.B. Mediums on my Martin D18V for 3 weeks and didn't like the tone, balance, volume, resonance the instant I put them on and they were extremely dull after 3 weeks.I had been using EXP17 and it was a disappointing downgrade from EXP17 to XT. The EXP17 to my ear are a great sounding and playing string with all the right characteristics. The XT were very metallic in tone for the 3 week period with noticeably less bass/bottom end, less mids, less resonance, and less balanced. The brightness was between EXP17 and EJ17 but with less dryness and less fullness and richness. The XT feels very similar to EJ17 and has the same string tension. The EXP17 has about 6 lbs less tension and is quite noticeable when playing. It is very disappointing that D'Addario has ceased manufacturing of the EXP series and replacing them with the XT series. I sent D'Addario my opinions of this and of the XT strings via email and am awaiting a reply.
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