D'Addario · XL Nickel · 12-16-20-32-42-54
D'Addario EXL145 (12-16-20-32-42-54) in Drop C on a 25" scale
12-54 Heavy Plain Third, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 108.1 lb49.0 kg481 N in total and 18.0 lb8.17 kg80 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.5%). String 6 (C2) deviates most: −21% from the set average.
- Total tension
- 108.1 lb49.0 kg481 N
- Average per string
- 18.0 lb8.17 kg80 N
- Balance
- moderately uneven
- spread 11.5%
Tension per string
| # | Note | Hz | Gauge | Item | Type | Tension | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D4 | 293.7 | .012 | PL012 | plain | 17.8 lb8.09 kg79 N | −1% |
| 2 | A3 | 220.0 | .016 | PL016 | plain | 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N | −1% |
| 3 | F3 | 174.6 | .020 | PL020 | plain | 17.5 lb7.95 kg78 N | −3% |
| 4 | C3 | 130.8 | .032 | NW032 | wound | 21.1 lb9.56 kg94 N | +17% |
| 5 | G2 | 98.0 | .042 | NW042 | wound | 19.5 lb8.87 kg87 N | +8% |
| 6 | C2 | 65.4 | .054 | NW054 | wound | 14.3 lb6.49 kg64 N | −21% |
| Total | 108.1 lb49.0 kg481 N | ||||||
Similar sets in Drop C, 25"
| Set | Gauges | Avg per string | Total | Feel | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D'Addario NYXL1156 | 11-14-19-32-44-56 | 16.9 lb7.68 kg75 N | 101.6 lb46.1 kg452 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario EXL117 | 11-14-19-32-44-56 | 17.0 lb7.71 kg76 N | 101.9 lb46.2 kg453 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario ECG24 | 11-15-22-30-40-50 | 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N | 106.9 lb48.5 kg476 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario NYXL1254 | 12-16-20-32-42-54 | 18.0 lb8.15 kg80 N | 107.9 lb48.9 kg480 N | medium | moderately uneven |
| EXL145 (this page) | 12-16-20-32-42-54 | 18.0 lb8.17 kg80 N | 108.1 lb49.0 kg481 N | medium | moderately uneven |
| D'Addario NYXL1260 | 12-16-20-34-46-60 | 19.5 lb8.85 kg87 N | 117.0 lb53.1 kg520 N | tight | uneven |
Best match for a medium feel in Drop C, 25"
Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).
- D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-54
- D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50
- D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48
More for the EXL145
Other tunings on 25": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, C standard, B standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD
Drop C on other scales: 24.75", 25.5", 26.5", 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 EXL145 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.