D'Addario · XL Nickel · 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74

D'Addario EXL140-8 (10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74) in E standard (8-string) on a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale

10-74 Light Top/Heavy Bottom 8-String, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale, tuned to E standard (8-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 140.2 lb63.6 kg624 N in total and 17.5 lb7.95 kg78 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 23.3%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +34% from the set average.

Total tension: 140.2 lb63.6 kg624 N
Average per string: 17.5 lb7.95 kg78 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 23.3%

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	D4	293.7	.010	PL010	plain	26.5"	13.9 lb6.30 kg62 N	−21%
2	A3	220.0	.013	PL013	plain	26.71"	13.4 lb6.09 kg60 N	−23%
3	F3	174.6	.017	PL017	plain	26.93"	14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N	−16%
4	C3	130.8	.030	NW030	wound	27.14"	22.3 lb10.09 kg99 N	+27%
5	G2	98.0	.042	NW042	wound	27.36"	23.4 lb10.62 kg104 N	+34%
6	D2	73.4	.054	NW054	wound	27.57"	21.9 lb9.94 kg98 N	+25%
7	A1	55.0	.064	NW064	wound	27.79"	17.5 lb7.92 kg78 N	−0%
8	E1	41.2	.074	NW074	wound	28"	13.1 lb5.95 kg58 N	−25%
Total							140.2 lb63.6 kg624 N

Open in the calculator

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

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

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL0980	9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80	13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N	109.0 lb49.4 kg485 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N	140.1 lb63.5 kg623 N	medium	uneven
EXL140-8 (this page)	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	17.5 lb7.95 kg78 N	140.2 lb63.6 kg624 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 12062	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N	144.4 lb65.5 kg642 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 19062	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N	144.4 lb65.5 kg642 N	medium	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E 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 22.1%, average 13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 23.8%, average 17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8
Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 26.9%, average 18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N, uneven; same gauges: 19062

More for the EXL140-8

E 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 EXL140-8 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.