D'Addario · XL Nickel · 10-13-17-30-42-52
D'Addario EXL140 (10-13-17-30-42-52) in Drop C on a 26.5" scale
10-52 Light Top/Heavy Bottom, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 98.9 lb44.9 kg440 N in total and 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 22.1%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +33% from the set average.
- Total tension
- 98.9 lb44.9 kg440 N
- Average per string
- 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N
- Balance
- uneven
- spread 22.1%
Tension per string
| # | Note | Hz | Gauge | Item | Type | Tension | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D4 | 293.7 | .010 | PL010 | plain | 13.9 lb6.30 kg62 N | −16% |
| 2 | A3 | 220.0 | .013 | PL013 | plain | 13.2 lb5.99 kg59 N | −20% |
| 3 | F3 | 174.6 | .017 | PL017 | plain | 14.2 lb6.46 kg63 N | −14% |
| 4 | C3 | 130.8 | .030 | NW030 | wound | 21.2 lb9.62 kg94 N | +29% |
| 5 | G2 | 98.0 | .042 | NW042 | wound | 22.0 lb9.96 kg98 N | +33% |
| 6 | C2 | 65.4 | .052 | NW052 | wound | 14.4 lb6.52 kg64 N | −13% |
| Total | 98.9 lb44.9 kg440 N | ||||||
Similar sets in Drop C, 26.5"
| Set | Gauges | Avg per string | Total | Feel | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D'Addario NYXL1149 | 11-14-18-28-38-49 | 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N | 96.9 lb43.9 kg431 N | medium | moderately uneven |
| D'Addario EXL115 | 11-14-18-28-38-49 | 16.2 lb7.34 kg72 N | 97.1 lb44.0 kg432 N | medium | moderately uneven |
| D'Addario NYXL1052 | 10-13-17-30-42-52 | 16.4 lb7.46 kg73 N | 98.6 lb44.7 kg439 N | medium | uneven |
| EXL140 (this page) | 10-13-17-30-42-52 | 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N | 98.9 lb44.9 kg440 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario EPN115 | 11-14-18-27-37-48 | 16.8 lb7.63 kg75 N | 100.9 lb45.8 kg449 N | medium | moderately uneven |
| D'Addario EXL115BT | 11-15-19-28-37-50 | 16.8 lb7.63 kg75 N | 101.0 lb45.8 kg449 N | medium | moderately uneven |
Best match for a medium feel in Drop C, 26.5"
Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).
- D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50
- D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48
- D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-49
More for the EXL140
Other tunings on 26.5": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD
Drop C on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 27", 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 EXL140 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.