String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · Pure Nickel · 11-14-18-27-37-48

D'Addario EPN115 (11-14-18-27-37-48) in Eb standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

11-48 Medium, XL Pure Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 115.6 lb52.4 kg514 N in total and 19.3 lb8.74 kg86 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.0%). String 5 (Ab2) deviates most: +17% from the set average.

Total tension
115.6 lb52.4 kg514 N
Average per string
19.3 lb8.74 kg86 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.0%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01117.5 lb7.93 kg78 N2Bb3.01416.2 lb7.37 kg72 N3Gb3.01817.4 lb7.88 kg77 N4Db3.02721.0 lb9.54 kg94 N5Ab2.03722.5 lb10.20 kg100 N6Eb2.04821.0 lb9.52 kg93 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1Eb4311.1 .011PL011plain 25.5" 17.5 lb7.93 kg78 N−9%
2Bb3233.1 .014PL014plain 25.8" 16.2 lb7.37 kg72 N−16%
3Gb3185.0 .018PL018plain 26.1" 17.4 lb7.88 kg77 N−10%
4Db3138.6 .027PNG027wound 26.4" 21.0 lb9.54 kg94 N+9%
5Ab2103.8 .037PNG037wound 26.7" 22.5 lb10.20 kg100 N+17%
6Eb277.8 .048PNG048wound 27" 21.0 lb9.52 kg93 N+9%
Total115.6 lb52.4 kg514 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in Eb standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4918.5 lb8.38 kg82 N 110.8 lb50.3 kg493 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1052 10-13-17-30-42-5218.9 lb8.58 kg84 N 113.4 lb51.5 kg505 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5219.0 lb8.60 kg84 N 113.7 lb51.6 kg506 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5019.2 lb8.70 kg85 N 115.1 lb52.2 kg512 Ntighteven
EPN115 (this page) 11-14-18-27-37-4819.3 lb8.74 kg86 N 115.6 lb52.4 kg514 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1152 11-14-18-30-42-5220.1 lb9.11 kg89 N 120.5 lb54.7 kg536 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 8.9%, average 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N, even
  2. D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.0%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSE1046, EXL110, EPS510
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.7%, average 18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115

More for the EPN115

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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