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

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

13-56 Medium, Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 155.7 lb70.6 kg693 N in total and 26.0 lb11.77 kg115 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is very even (spread 2.5%). String 4 (Db3) deviates most: +16% from the set average.

Total tension
155.7 lb70.6 kg693 N
Average per string
26.0 lb11.77 kg115 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
very even
spread 2.5%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nset averagemedium (12-53)1Eb4.01323.0 lb10.45 kg103 N2Bb3.01722.1 lb10.04 kg98 N3Gb3.02629.5 lb13.37 kg131 N4Db3.03530.2 lb13.68 kg134 N5Ab2.04527.6 lb12.50 kg123 N6Eb2.05623.4 lb10.59 kg104 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
1Eb4311.1 .013PL013plain 23.0 lb10.45 kg103 N−11%
2Bb3233.1 .017PL017plain 22.1 lb10.04 kg98 N−15%
3Gb3185.0 .026PB026wound 29.5 lb13.37 kg131 N+14%
4Db3138.6 .035PB035wound 30.2 lb13.68 kg134 N+16%
5Ab2103.8 .045PB045wound 27.6 lb12.50 kg123 N+6%
6Eb277.8 .056PB056wound 23.4 lb10.59 kg104 N−10%
Total155.7 lb70.6 kg693 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5324.3 lb11.04 kg108 N 146.0 lb66.2 kg650 Nlooseeven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5624.7 lb11.20 kg110 N 148.2 lb67.2 kg659 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-5625.7 lb11.64 kg114 N 154.0 lb69.9 kg685 Nloosevery even
Elixir 11102 13-17-26-35-45-5625.7 lb11.64 kg114 N 154.0 lb69.9 kg685 Nloosevery even
EJ17 (this page) 13-17-26-35-45-5626.0 lb11.77 kg115 N 155.7 lb70.6 kg693 Nmediumvery even
Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-5626.4 lb11.96 kg117 N 158.2 lb71.8 kg704 Nmediumvery even

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 24.75"

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

  1. Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 3.3%, average 26.4 lb11.96 kg117 N, very even; same gauges: 11100, 11102
  2. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 4.0%, average 26.0 lb11.77 kg115 N, very even
  3. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 9.9%, average 24.3 lb11.04 kg108 N, even; same gauges: 11182

More for the EJ17

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

Eb standard 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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