i like to build my wheels with db spokes, i try to use sapim, as they are nicer quality than dt. my newest wheels are with the cx ray spokes, they seem to be really taught this time, as in the bike seems really stiff with them? on my last build with them they just felt like db spokes
i dont use plain guage any more as they seem no cheaper than db, and to be honest i have never seen any strength issues with db, even my downhill bike has 2.0-1.8-2.0 sapims on.
i used to like the sapim adverts in the mid nineties, thats what i used to aspire to.