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

D'Addario EXL120-7 (9-11-16-24-32-42-54) in Drop A (7-string) on a 28" scale

09-54 Super Light 7-String, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Drop A (7-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 A1), pulls 114.5 lb51.9 kg509 N in total and 16.4 lb7.42 kg73 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 14.3%). String 7 (A1) deviates most: −22% from the set average.

Total tension
114.5 lb51.9 kg509 N
Average per string
16.4 lb7.42 kg73 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 14.3%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.00915.8 lb7.17 kg70 N2B3.01113.3 lb6.02 kg59 N3G3.01617.7 lb8.05 kg79 N4D3.02418.9 lb8.59 kg84 N5A2.03218.7 lb8.48 kg83 N6E2.04217.3 lb7.86 kg77 N7A1.05412.7 lb5.76 kg56 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
1E4329.6 .009PL009plain 15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N−3%
2B3246.9 .011PL011plain 13.3 lb6.02 kg59 N−19%
3G3196.0 .016PL016plain 17.7 lb8.05 kg79 N+8%
4D3146.8 .024NW024wound 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N+16%
5A2110.0 .032NW032wound 18.7 lb8.48 kg83 N+14%
6E282.4 .042NW042wound 17.3 lb7.86 kg77 N+6%
7A155.0 .054NW054wound 12.7 lb5.76 kg56 N−22%
Total114.5 lb51.9 kg509 N

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Similar sets in Drop A (7-string), 28"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
EXL120-7 (this page) 9-11-16-24-32-42-5416.4 lb7.42 kg73 N 114.5 lb51.9 kg509 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12007 9-11-16-24-32-42-5216.4 lb7.43 kg73 N 114.7 lb52.0 kg510 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19007 9-11-16-24-32-42-5216.4 lb7.45 kg73 N 114.9 lb52.1 kg511 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5619.8 lb8.97 kg88 N 138.5 lb62.8 kg616 Ntightuneven
Elixir 19057 10-13-17-26-36-46-5619.8 lb8.97 kg88 N 138.5 lb62.8 kg616 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-5919.8 lb8.99 kg88 N 138.7 lb62.9 kg617 Ntightmoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A (7-string), 28"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL120-7 9-11-16-24-32-42-54 deviation 14.4%, average 16.4 lb7.42 kg73 N, uneven
  2. Elixir 12007 9-11-16-24-32-42-52 deviation 15.8%, average 16.4 lb7.43 kg73 N, uneven; same gauges: 19007
  3. D'Addario NYXL1059 10-13-17-26-36-46-59 deviation 20.9%, average 19.8 lb8.99 kg88 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL110-7

More for the EXL120-7

Other tunings on 28": B standard (7-string)

Drop A (7-string) on other scales: 26.5", 27", 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