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

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

12-53 Light, Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Open D (D4 A3 F#3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N in total and 23.8 lb10.78 kg106 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.5%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +22% from the set average.

Total tension: 142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N
Average per string: 23.8 lb10.78 kg106 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 10.5%

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	−22%
2	A3	220.0	.016	PL016	plain	18.5 lb8.41 kg82 N	−22%
3	F#3	185.0	.024	PB024	wound	26.8 lb12.17 kg119 N	+13%
4	D3	146.8	.032	PB032	wound	29.9 lb13.57 kg133 N	+26%
5	A2	110.0	.042	PB042	wound	28.9 lb13.12 kg129 N	+22%
6	D2	73.4	.053	PB053	wound	19.8 lb8.97 kg88 N	−17%
Total						142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Open D, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario XSABR1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	23.2 lb10.53 kg103 N	139.3 lb63.2 kg620 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11050	12-16-24-32-42-53	23.4 lb10.63 kg104 N	140.7 lb63.8 kg626 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11052	12-16-24-32-42-53	23.4 lb10.63 kg104 N	140.7 lb63.8 kg626 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario XSAPB1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	23.8 lb10.78 kg106 N	142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N	loose	moderately uneven
EJ16 (this page)	12-16-24-32-42-53	23.8 lb10.78 kg106 N	142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 16052	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.1 lb10.95 kg107 N	144.8 lb65.7 kg644 N	loose	moderately uneven

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

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

Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 9.0%, average 25.6 lb11.63 kg114 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11182
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 11.4%, average 27.2 lb12.32 kg121 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.1%, average 27.5 lb12.46 kg122 N, moderately uneven

More for the EJ16

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

Open D 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.