I always use coated strings cause I ve got really sweaty hands. I always look for someting more cheap, cause I change strings every other week , and that os growing expensive. So i bought 3 sets of these just to try them out.
Unfortunatelly these "coated" duratones din't deliver...not even 3 hours!!
I strang up my acoustic (clean and polish the fretboard) and the next day just had a small 2 hour jam-rehearse in my house and the sound just died!!
I thougt it was just a coincidence, so I restrang with a new set of duratones...the end result the same!! 2-3 hours of casual strum in about 4 days and the heavey E - A - G just died. Dull sound and lifeless...
Thats unexceptable for this price and this brand (I love my fender guitars)
I ve used most of the "coated" strings and only the expencive ones are really durable and last for days (i ve never used the Black Smithyet).
I dont know if its only coated for the moisture of the atmosphaire or maybe for the "shelv life" of a guitar, but If you sweat a lot, look elsewhere.
Update. I gave the third set to my bandmember (girl that pick lightly , with no sweety hands) and the strings lasted 1 week!!
Worst coated strings ever!!