I tend to prefer bright sounding strings with non conventional attachments that don't require wrapping the strings around a ball end. That's why I use Fender Bullets.....damn this is sounding like a commercial!
I use earnie balls but I have problems with them unraveling on my Jaguar and Jazzmaster's trem units (unless I whip out the Soldering Iron, which is an extra 10 minutes on restringing).
D'addario's I've used a few times, but I have more problems with them breaking than other brands for some reason.
Used DR's, those were broken string city. How Dime ever used those without breaking them every 5 minutes I'll never know.
As far as the body woods thing, it DOES make a difference, but not in the way most people think...and also, being as wood is a biological item, there can be wide variances from one piece or lot to another. What you hear that's different (and very very marginally), is attack and decay of notes, not the actual "tonality" or timbre of the guitar. Maple bodies sound brighter not because they enhance treble but because the attack is sharper due to less absorbance and sympathetic vibration with the string, givving the illusion there is more treble than there really is. Even then, it can't be a general rule. That's why I just play whatever wood it's made out of and don't give a crud. I've owned guitars with pressure treated pine bodies before, some of those had exceptional sound quality.
