String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · ProSteels · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario EPS510 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Eb standard on a 25" scale

10-46 Regular Light, XL ProSteels Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 84.7 lb38.4 kg377 N in total and 14.1 lb6.40 kg63 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 4.8%). String 5 (Ab2) deviates most: +8% from the set average.

Total tension
84.7 lb38.4 kg377 N
Average per string
14.1 lb6.40 kg63 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 4.8%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1Eb4.01013.9 lb6.30 kg62 N2Bb3.01313.2 lb5.99 kg59 N3Gb3.01714.2 lb6.45 kg63 N4Db3.02614.6 lb6.61 kg65 N5Ab2.03615.3 lb6.92 kg68 N6Eb2.04613.5 lb6.14 kg60 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 Tensionvs avg
1Eb4311.1 .010PL010plain 13.9 lb6.30 kg62 N−2%
2Bb3233.1 .013PL013plain 13.2 lb5.99 kg59 N−6%
3Gb3185.0 .017PL017plain 14.2 lb6.45 kg63 N+1%
4Db3138.6 .026PSG026wound 14.6 lb6.61 kg65 N+3%
5Ab2103.8 .036PSG036wound 15.3 lb6.92 kg68 N+8%
6Eb277.8 .046PSG046wound 13.5 lb6.14 kg60 N−4%
Total84.7 lb38.4 kg377 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
EPS510 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4614.1 lb6.40 kg63 N 84.7 lb38.4 kg377 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-4614.4 lb6.52 kg64 N 86.3 lb39.1 kg384 Nloosevery even
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4614.6 lb6.63 kg65 N 87.7 lb39.8 kg390 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4614.6 lb6.63 kg65 N 87.7 lb39.8 kg390 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4614.6 lb6.64 kg65 N 87.8 lb39.8 kg391 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4916.7 lb7.57 kg74 N 100.1 lb45.4 kg445 Nmediumeven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 25"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 3.2%, average 17.4 lb7.89 kg77 N, very even
  2. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 6.4%, average 16.7 lb7.57 kg74 N, even; same gauges: EXL115
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 9.4%, average 17.4 lb7.90 kg78 N, moderately uneven

More for the EPS510

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

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

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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