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

D'Addario EJ16 (12-16-24-32-42-53) in Drop D on a 25" scale

12-53 Light, Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 149.5 lb67.8 kg665 N in total and 24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.9%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −24% from the set average.

Total tension: 149.5 lb67.8 kg665 N
Average per string: 24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 7.9%

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	E4	329.6	.012	PL012	plain	22.5 lb10.20 kg100 N	−10%
2	B3	246.9	.016	PL016	plain	22.4 lb10.18 kg100 N	−10%
3	G3	196.0	.024	PB024	wound	29.0 lb13.13 kg129 N	+16%
4	D3	146.8	.032	PB032	wound	28.8 lb13.05 kg128 N	+15%
5	A2	110.0	.042	PB042	wound	27.8 lb12.61 kg124 N	+12%
6	D2	73.4	.053	PB053	wound	19.0 lb8.62 kg85 N	−24%
Total						149.5 lb67.8 kg665 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 25"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario XSABR1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.4 lb11.06 kg108 N	146.3 lb66.3 kg651 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11050	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.6 lb11.15 kg109 N	147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11052	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.6 lb11.15 kg109 N	147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario XSAPB1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N	149.5 lb67.8 kg665 N	loose	moderately uneven
EJ16 (this page)	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N	149.5 lb67.8 kg665 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 16052	12-16-24-32-42-53	25.3 lb11.46 kg112 N	151.6 lb68.8 kg674 N	loose	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 25"

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

Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 8.9%, average 25.3 lb11.46 kg112 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11050, 11052
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-56 deviation 9.6%, average 26.6 lb12.05 kg118 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11077, 16077
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 10.3%, average 24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253

More for the EJ16

Other tunings on 25": E standard, Eb standard, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Drop D on other scales: 24.75", 25.5"

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.