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D'Addario · Phosphor Bronze · 13-17-26-35-45-56

D'Addario EJ17 (13-17-26-35-45-56) in DADGAD on a 24.75" scale

13-56 Medium, Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 158.9 lb72.1 kg707 N in total and 26.5 lb12.01 kg118 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.8%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −21% from the set average.

Total tension
158.9 lb72.1 kg707 N
Average per string
26.5 lb12.01 kg118 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.8%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nset averagemedium (12-53)1D4.01320.5 lb9.31 kg91 N2A3.01719.7 lb8.94 kg88 N3G3.02633.1 lb15.01 kg147 N4D3.03533.8 lb15.35 kg151 N5A2.04530.9 lb14.03 kg138 N6D2.05620.8 lb9.44 kg93 N
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.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .013PL013plain 20.5 lb9.31 kg91 N−22%
2A3220.0 .017PL017plain 19.7 lb8.94 kg88 N−26%
3G3196.0 .026PB026wound 33.1 lb15.01 kg147 N+25%
4D3146.8 .035PB035wound 33.8 lb15.35 kg151 N+28%
5A2110.0 .045PB045wound 30.9 lb14.03 kg138 N+17%
6D273.4 .056PB056wound 20.8 lb9.44 kg93 N−21%
Total158.9 lb72.1 kg707 N

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Similar sets in DADGAD, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5324.7 lb11.22 kg110 N 148.5 lb67.3 kg660 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5625.3 lb11.47 kg112 N 151.7 lb68.8 kg675 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-5626.2 lb11.87 kg116 N 157.0 lb71.2 kg699 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11102 13-17-26-35-45-5626.2 lb11.87 kg116 N 157.0 lb71.2 kg699 Nmediummoderately uneven
EJ17 (this page) 13-17-26-35-45-5626.5 lb12.01 kg118 N 158.9 lb72.1 kg707 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-5626.9 lb12.21 kg120 N 161.6 lb73.3 kg719 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 24.75"

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

  1. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.1%, average 26.2 lb11.87 kg116 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  2. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 12.7%, average 24.7 lb11.22 kg110 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11182
  3. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.8%, average 26.5 lb12.01 kg118 N, uneven

More for the EJ17

Other tunings on 24.75": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D

DADGAD on other scales: 25", 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.

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