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D'Addario · XL Nickel · 10-13-17-26-36-46-59

D'Addario EXL110-7 (10-13-17-26-36-46-59) in A standard (7-string) on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

10-59 Regular Light 7-String, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to A standard (7-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1), pulls 99.8 lb45.3 kg444 N in total and 14.3 lb6.47 kg63 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.9%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +14% from the set average.

Total tension
99.8 lb45.3 kg444 N
Average per string
14.3 lb6.47 kg63 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.9%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01012.9 lb5.84 kg57 N2A3.01312.5 lb5.66 kg55 N3F3.01713.7 lb6.22 kg61 N4C3.02615.5 lb7.03 kg69 N5G2.03616.3 lb7.39 kg73 N6D2.04614.8 lb6.70 kg66 N7A1.05914.2 lb6.42 kg63 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
1D4293.7 .010PL010plain 25.5" 12.9 lb5.84 kg57 N−10%
2A3220.0 .013PL013plain 25.75" 12.5 lb5.66 kg55 N−12%
3F3174.6 .017PL017plain 26" 13.7 lb6.22 kg61 N−4%
4C3130.8 .026NW026wound 26.25" 15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N+9%
5G298.0 .036NW036wound 26.5" 16.3 lb7.39 kg73 N+14%
6D273.4 .046NW046wound 26.75" 14.8 lb6.70 kg66 N+4%
7A155.0 .059NW059wound 27" 14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N−1%
Total99.8 lb45.3 kg444 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in A standard (7-string), 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 12057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5614.2 lb6.42 kg63 N 99.1 lb45.0 kg441 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 19057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5614.2 lb6.42 kg63 N 99.1 lb45.0 kg441 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.2 lb6.45 kg63 N 99.6 lb45.2 kg443 Nloosemoderately uneven
EXL110-7 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.3 lb6.47 kg63 N 99.8 lb45.3 kg444 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.4 lb6.53 kg64 N 100.7 lb45.7 kg448 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 19074 10-13-17-26-36-46-5914.4 lb6.53 kg64 N 100.7 lb45.7 kg448 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in A standard (7-string), 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 NYXL1164 11-14-18-28-38-49-64 deviation 8.3%, average 16.3 lb7.40 kg73 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 12106 11-14-18-28-38-49-59 deviation 10.6%, average 16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19106
  3. Elixir 12074 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 18.2%, average 14.4 lb6.53 kg64 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19074

More for the EXL110-7

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: B standard (7-string), Drop A (7-string)

A standard (7-string) 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