String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · XL Nickel · 13-17-26-36-46-62

D'Addario EXL158 (13-17-26-36-46-62) in B standard on a 24.75" scale

13-62 Light Baritone, XL Nickel Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to B standard (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 96.1 lb43.6 kg428 N in total and 16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 8.9%). String 2 (F#3) deviates most: −13% from the set average.

Total tension
96.1 lb43.6 kg428 N
Average per string
16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 8.9%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1B3.01314.5 lb6.59 kg65 N2F#3.01713.9 lb6.32 kg62 N3D3.02617.3 lb7.87 kg77 N4A2.03617.9 lb8.13 kg80 N5E2.04615.9 lb7.23 kg71 N6B1.06216.5 lb7.48 kg73 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 .013PL013plain 14.5 lb6.59 kg65 N−9%
2F#3185.0 .017PL017plain 13.9 lb6.32 kg62 N−13%
3D3146.8 .026NW026wound 17.3 lb7.87 kg77 N+8%
4A2110.0 .036NW036wound 17.9 lb8.13 kg80 N+12%
5E282.4 .046NW046wound 15.9 lb7.23 kg71 N−1%
6B161.7 .062NW062wound 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N+3%
Total96.1 lb43.6 kg428 N

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Similar sets in B standard, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5412.9 lb5.84 kg57 N 77.3 lb35.1 kg344 Nlooseeven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5412.9 lb5.86 kg57 N 77.5 lb35.2 kg345 Nlooseeven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6014.0 lb6.37 kg62 N 84.3 lb38.2 kg375 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6014.1 lb6.39 kg63 N 84.5 lb38.3 kg376 Nlooseuneven
EXL158 (this page) 13-17-26-36-46-6216.0 lb7.27 kg71 N 96.1 lb43.6 kg428 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL157 14-18-26-44-56-6819.9 lb9.04 kg89 N 119.6 lb54.2 kg532 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard, 24.75"

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

  1. D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 10.4%, average 16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 20.5%, average 14.1 lb6.39 kg63 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL1260
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 25.0%, average 12.9 lb5.86 kg57 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the EXL158

Other tunings on 24.75": Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, Drop A

B standard on other scales: 25", 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.

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