D'Addario · XL Nickel · 9-11-16-24-32-42-54

D'Addario EXL120-7 (9-11-16-24-32-42-54) in B standard (7-string) on a 27" scale

09-54 Super Light 7-String, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to B standard (7-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 109.5 lb49.7 kg487 N in total and 15.6 lb7.10 kg70 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.9%). String 2 (B3) deviates most: −21% from the set average.

Total tension: 109.5 lb49.7 kg487 N
Average per string: 15.6 lb7.10 kg70 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 10.9%

Tension per string

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.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Tension	vs avg
1	E4	329.6	.009	PL009	plain	14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N	−6%
2	B3	246.9	.011	PL011	plain	12.3 lb5.60 kg55 N	−21%
3	G3	196.0	.016	PL016	plain	16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N	+5%
4	D3	146.8	.024	NW024	wound	17.6 lb7.99 kg78 N	+13%
5	A2	110.0	.032	NW032	wound	17.4 lb7.88 kg77 N	+11%
6	E2	82.4	.042	NW042	wound	16.1 lb7.31 kg72 N	+3%
7	B1	61.7	.054	NW054	wound	14.9 lb6.74 kg66 N	−5%
Total						109.5 lb49.7 kg487 N

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Similar sets in B standard (7-string), 27"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
EXL120-7 (this page)	9-11-16-24-32-42-54	15.6 lb7.10 kg70 N	109.5 lb49.7 kg487 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 12007	9-11-16-24-32-42-52	15.7 lb7.10 kg70 N	109.6 lb49.7 kg487 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 19007	9-11-16-24-32-42-52	15.7 lb7.11 kg70 N	109.7 lb49.8 kg488 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 12057	10-13-17-26-36-46-56	18.9 lb8.56 kg84 N	132.1 lb59.9 kg587 N	tight	moderately uneven
Elixir 19057	10-13-17-26-36-46-56	18.9 lb8.56 kg84 N	132.1 lb59.9 kg587 N	tight	moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1059	10-13-17-26-36-46-59	18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N	132.6 lb60.2 kg590 N	tight	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard (7-string), 27"

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

D'Addario EXL120-7 9-11-16-24-32-42-54 deviation 13.1%, average 15.6 lb7.10 kg70 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 13.4%, average 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL110-7
Elixir 12007 9-11-16-24-32-42-52 deviation 13.8%, average 15.7 lb7.10 kg70 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19007

More for the EXL120-7

Other tunings on 27": Drop A (7-string)

B standard (7-string) on other scales: 26.5", 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.

Sources

D'Addario product page, tension chart for EXL120-7 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.