I think what strings you want really depends on what guitar you have, especially if it's an acoustic guitar. Some acoustics naturally have a brighter tone, and some are a bit more mellow. To add to that, everyone has a different opinion about what the perfect tone is, so the best way to find the strings you'll like the most is to try as many kinds as you can (although that can get a bit expensive).
For acoustic I use D'dardio or Martins (standard or SPs). They are both fairly inexpensive, and I haven't been able to tell a ton of difference in tone between them and the Elixers. I have a couple acoustics, and for the larger-bodied I use phosphor bronze lights (12 gauge). They have a really good balanced tone. For the smaller-bodied guitar I use 80-20s (also lights), because they add that extra projection that you just can't get with the phosphor bronze. If you play acoustic often, you could probably get medium gauge (i think they are 13s), as it adds a little bit of sound, but I play mostly electric, so my fingers don't like more than a couple hours of playing on medium acoustic strings.
For electric, I play a strat and I always use Elixer nanoweb 10s. I've tried a lot of strings, and none of them have the longevity or the tone that the elixers do. They are a bit expensive than some strings, but you won't have to change them very often at all (probably every 4-6+ months if you aren't gigging).
Hopefully this helps a bit, but like I said before, the best way to find the strings you like the most is to try them. Good luck :smile:
