I've mainly been using D'Addario light PB's and Martin SP med/light and recently tried swaping out my bottom E Martin with a nanoweb, the results were positive in the sense that I got that little more punch in the bottom end that I was seeking out.

Then I picked up a set of the Fingerstyle strings from Martin, I had been hearing so much about them but couldn't find 'em anywhere.

Well, they definitely don't seem as loud as the previous two types that I had been using but I did notice that they are 80/20's and the only time I've used 80/20's, they were D'Addarios's lights, the lesser volume was something that I noticed with them so maybe that's attributed to that particular combination. Between the 80/20 or PB, I much prefere the tone of the PB.

BUT...with these fingerstyle strings, I really like the definition,harmonics and overall tonal quality that each string has. It seems futal to try and explain these things but I guess I'll try. To me, these are the Goodalls of strings, in the sense that they seem to keep the solid fundemental quality that we all know we can count on from a Collings but it's like what I'm hearing is more complex and I can only explain it as being heavier on the harmonics than anything else I've put on this guitar, it really surprised me. I tried playing right after I put them on and I can usually do this with the other strings I've used, but there was no way. I had to let things settle down for a good 4 hours and it's been a good week now and they're still sounding better and better, probably me getting accustomed as well. It still sounds like my 0002H but with a nice quality of sonic definition between the strings that still allows them to work together in a way that I have never gotten before using them. I don't do much strumming or flatpicking but for fingerstyle I'm really liking them more and more each time I play.

I sure would be interested in other's experiences with these strings.

rnr,
I have a set of Martin Fingerstyles on my LoPrinzi Dread and I like the sound and feel. I got a free set at the last Summer NAMM in Nashville and finally put them on a guitar. The cores are different but I can't remember what the Martin rep told me; thinner I think. The different core could have different tension than other strings of the same gauge and could account for the settle-in period when you first put them on your guitar. My current favs are still the DR Extra Life light gauge on my OM3HG. They give the OM the widest tonal range of any coated string I've used. I just put a set of Elixir Polyweb lights on the OM and if they didn't cost so much, I'd cut 'em off and put the DRs on today. Give them a try if you can deal with Red, Green or Black strings. They make me feel like I'm using the old Black Diamonds, but now I'm dating myself.