D'Addario · XL Nickel · 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65

D'Addario EXL120-8 (9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65) in F# standard (8-string) on a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale

09-65 Super Light 8-String, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale, tuned to F# standard (8-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1 F#1), pulls 123.9 lb56.2 kg551 N in total and 15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 13.1%). String 2 (B3) deviates most: −22% from the set average.

Total tension: 123.9 lb56.2 kg551 N
Average per string: 15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 13.1%

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	Length	Tension	vs avg
1	E4	329.6	.009	PL009	plain	26.5"	14.2 lb6.42 kg63 N	−9%
2	B3	246.9	.011	PL011	plain	26.71"	12.1 lb5.48 kg54 N	−22%
3	G3	196.0	.016	PL016	plain	26.93"	16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N	+6%
4	D3	146.8	.024	NW024	wound	27.14"	17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N	+15%
5	A2	110.0	.032	NW032	wound	27.36"	17.8 lb8.09 kg79 N	+15%
6	E2	82.4	.042	NW042	wound	27.57"	16.8 lb7.62 kg75 N	+9%
7	B1	61.7	.054	NW054	wound	27.79"	15.7 lb7.14 kg70 N	+2%
8	F#1	46.2	.065	NW065	wound	28"	13.1 lb5.93 kg58 N	−16%
Total							123.9 lb56.2 kg551 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 26.5" (treble) to 28" (bass).

Similar sets in F# standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
EXL120-8 (this page)	9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65	15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N	123.9 lb56.2 kg551 N	loose	uneven
D'Addario NYXL0980	9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80	17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N	137.3 lb62.3 kg611 N	medium	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in F# standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

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

D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80 deviation 11.0%, average 17.2 lb7.78 kg76 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65 deviation 15.1%, average 15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N, uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 41.6%, average 22.1 lb10.01 kg98 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8

More for the EXL120-8

F# standard (8-string) on other scales: 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

D'Addario product page, tension chart for EXL120-8 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.