String Tension Lab Calculator

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

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

12-60 Extra Heavy, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 122.1 lb55.4 kg543 N in total and 20.4 lb9.23 kg91 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 13.1%). String 4 (C3) deviates most: +20% from the set average.

Total tension
122.1 lb55.4 kg543 N
Average per string
20.4 lb9.23 kg91 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 13.1%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01218.6 lb8.42 kg83 N2A3.01618.5 lb8.41 kg82 N3F3.02018.2 lb8.27 kg81 N4C3.03424.3 lb11.04 kg108 N5G2.04623.9 lb10.85 kg106 N6C2.06018.5 lb8.40 kg82 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 Tensionvs avg
1D4293.7 .012PL012plain 18.6 lb8.42 kg83 N−9%
2A3220.0 .016PL016plain 18.5 lb8.41 kg82 N−9%
3F3174.6 .020PL020plain 18.2 lb8.27 kg81 N−10%
4C3130.8 .034NW034wound 24.3 lb11.04 kg108 N+20%
5G298.0 .046NW046wound 23.9 lb10.85 kg106 N+18%
6C265.4 .060NW060wound 18.5 lb8.40 kg82 N−9%
Total122.1 lb55.4 kg543 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop C, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5617.7 lb8.02 kg79 N 106.1 lb48.1 kg472 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5018.5 lb8.41 kg82 N 111.2 lb50.5 kg495 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5418.7 lb8.48 kg83 N 112.2 lb50.9 kg499 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5418.7 lb8.50 kg83 N 112.5 lb51.0 kg500 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6020.3 lb9.20 kg90 N 121.7 lb55.2 kg542 Ntightuneven
EXL148 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6020.4 lb9.23 kg91 N 122.1 lb55.4 kg543 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop C, 25.5"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 12.3%, average 15.6 lb7.07 kg69 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 13.7%, average 15.6 lb7.07 kg69 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 15.6%, average 15.0 lb6.80 kg67 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1149

More for the EXL148

Other tunings on 25.5": Eb standard, D standard, C standard, B standard, Drop A

Drop C on other scales: 24.75", 25", 26.5", 27", 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