String Tension Lab Calculator

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

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

12-60 Extra Heavy, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to B standard (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 100.6 lb45.6 kg448 N in total and 16.8 lb7.61 kg75 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.9%). String 4 (A2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
100.6 lb45.6 kg448 N
Average per string
16.8 lb7.61 kg75 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.9%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1B3.01214.7 lb6.68 kg65 N2F#3.01614.7 lb6.67 kg65 N3D3.02014.5 lb6.56 kg64 N4A2.03419.3 lb8.75 kg86 N5E2.04619.0 lb8.60 kg84 N6B1.06018.5 lb8.39 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
1B3246.9 .012PL012plain 14.7 lb6.68 kg65 N−12%
2F#3185.0 .016PL016plain 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N−12%
3D3146.8 .020PL020plain 14.5 lb6.56 kg64 N−14%
4A2110.0 .034NW034wound 19.3 lb8.75 kg86 N+15%
5E282.4 .046NW046wound 19.0 lb8.60 kg84 N+13%
6B161.7 .060NW060wound 18.5 lb8.39 kg82 N+10%
Total100.6 lb45.6 kg448 N

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Similar sets in B standard, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5614.6 lb6.60 kg65 N 87.4 lb39.6 kg389 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5015.2 lb6.88 kg68 N 91.1 lb41.3 kg405 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5415.3 lb6.96 kg68 N 92.0 lb41.7 kg409 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5415.4 lb6.97 kg68 N 92.2 lb41.8 kg410 Nlooseeven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6016.7 lb7.58 kg74 N 100.3 lb45.5 kg446 Nmediumuneven
EXL148 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6016.8 lb7.61 kg75 N 100.6 lb45.6 kg448 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard, 27"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 11.8%, average 15.4 lb6.97 kg68 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 12.6%, average 16.7 lb7.58 kg74 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 15.2%, average 19.1 lb8.65 kg85 N, moderately uneven

More for the EXL148

Other tunings on 27": D standard, Drop C, C standard, Drop A

B standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 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.

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