D'Addario · Phosphor Bronze · 12-16-24-32-42-53

D'Addario EJ16 (12-16-24-32-42-53) in D standard on a 25.5" scale

12-53 Light, Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 127.5 lb57.8 kg567 N in total and 21.2 lb9.64 kg95 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is very even (spread 0.0%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −7% from the set average.

Total tension: 127.5 lb57.8 kg567 N
Average per string: 21.2 lb9.64 kg95 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: very even; spread 0.0%

Tension per string

The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 12-53 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N). Loose and tight are measured against it.Line thickness follows the string gauge; textured lines are wound strings. Hover, tap or tab to a string for details.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Tension	vs avg
1	D4	293.7	.012	PL012	plain	18.6 lb8.42 kg83 N	−13%
2	A3	220.0	.016	PL016	plain	18.5 lb8.41 kg82 N	−13%
3	F3	174.6	.024	PB024	wound	23.9 lb10.85 kg106 N	+13%
4	C3	130.8	.032	PB032	wound	23.8 lb10.77 kg106 N	+12%
5	G2	98.0	.042	PB042	wound	23.0 lb10.41 kg102 N	+8%
6	D2	73.4	.053	PB053	wound	19.8 lb8.97 kg88 N	−7%
Total						127.5 lb57.8 kg567 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario XSABR1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	20.8 lb9.43 kg92 N	124.7 lb56.6 kg555 N	loose	very even
Elixir 11050	12-16-24-32-42-53	21.0 lb9.51 kg93 N	125.9 lb57.1 kg560 N	loose	very even
Elixir 11052	12-16-24-32-42-53	21.0 lb9.51 kg93 N	125.9 lb57.1 kg560 N	loose	very even
D'Addario XSAPB1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	21.2 lb9.64 kg95 N	127.5 lb57.8 kg567 N	loose	very even
EJ16 (this page)	12-16-24-32-42-53	21.2 lb9.64 kg95 N	127.5 lb57.8 kg567 N	loose	very even
Elixir 16052	12-16-24-32-42-53	21.6 lb9.78 kg96 N	129.4 lb58.7 kg576 N	loose	very even

Best match for a medium feel in D standard, 25.5"

Ranked by how close every string is to 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N (lower deviation is better).

Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 7.5%, average 24.9 lb11.31 kg111 N, very even; same gauges: 11100, 11102
D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 8.8%, average 24.5 lb11.13 kg109 N, very even
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 14.4%, average 23.0 lb10.44 kg102 N, even; same gauges: 11182

More for the EJ16

Other tunings on 25.5": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

D standard on other scales: 24.75", 25"

About these numbers

Tension is calculated, not measured: T = μ · (2 · L · f)², where μ is the string's mass per unit length (unit weight), L the vibrating length (scale) and f the pitch (A4 = 440 Hz, equal temperament). kg means kilogram-force: 1 kg ≈ 9.81 N ≈ 2.205 lb.

How a set feels also depends on the guitar's setup: action height, break angle over the nut and saddle, string length behind the nut and bridge, and your playing style. Plain strings feel stiffer than wound strings at the same tension. Use these figures to compare sets, not as an absolute measure of feel.

Sources

D'Addario product page, tension chart for EJ16 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.