String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · XL Nickel · 12-16-20-34-46-60

D'Addario EXL148 (12-16-20-34-46-60) in C standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

12-60 Extra Heavy, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 107.2 lb48.6 kg477 N in total and 17.9 lb8.11 kg80 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 16.2%). String 1 (C4) deviates most: −18% from the set average.

Total tension
107.2 lb48.6 kg477 N
Average per string
17.9 lb8.11 kg80 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 16.2%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1C4.01214.7 lb6.68 kg66 N2G3.01615.1 lb6.83 kg67 N3Eb3.02015.2 lb6.88 kg67 N4Bb2.03420.7 lb9.39 kg92 N5F2.04620.8 lb9.44 kg93 N6C2.06020.8 lb9.42 kg92 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1C4261.6 .012PL012plain 25.5" 14.7 lb6.68 kg66 N−18%
2G3196.0 .016PL016plain 25.8" 15.1 lb6.83 kg67 N−16%
3Eb3155.6 .020PL020plain 26.1" 15.2 lb6.88 kg67 N−15%
4Bb2116.5 .034NW034wound 26.4" 20.7 lb9.39 kg92 N+16%
5F287.3 .046NW046wound 26.7" 20.8 lb9.44 kg93 N+16%
6C265.4 .060NW060wound 27" 20.8 lb9.42 kg92 N+16%
Total107.2 lb48.6 kg477 N

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Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in C standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5615.5 lb7.05 kg69 N 93.2 lb42.3 kg415 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5016.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.9 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5416.3 lb7.39 kg72 N 97.7 lb44.3 kg435 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5416.3 lb7.41 kg73 N 98.0 lb44.4 kg436 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6017.8 lb8.08 kg79 N 106.9 lb48.5 kg475 Nmediumuneven
EXL148 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6017.9 lb8.11 kg80 N 107.2 lb48.6 kg477 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 9.6%, average 16.3 lb7.39 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL145
  2. D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-50 deviation 16.2%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 17.1%, average 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148

More for the EXL148

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: D standard, Drop C, B standard, Drop A

C standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 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.

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