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D'Addario · NYXL · 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80

D'Addario NYXL0980 (9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80) in Drop E (8-string) on a 25.5" scale

09-80 Super Light 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop E (8-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1 E1), pulls 116.6 lb52.9 kg519 N in total and 14.6 lb6.61 kg65 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.3%). String 8 (E1) deviates most: −14% from the set average.

Total tension
116.6 lb52.9 kg519 N
Average per string
14.6 lb6.61 kg65 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.3%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.00913.1 lb5.95 kg58 N2B3.01213.1 lb5.95 kg58 N3G3.01614.7 lb6.67 kg65 N4D3.02415.7 lb7.12 kg70 N5A2.03215.4 lb7.00 kg69 N6E2.04415.5 lb7.05 kg69 N7B1.06016.4 lb7.45 kg73 N8E1.08012.6 lb5.71 kg56 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
1E4329.6 .009NYS009plain 13.1 lb5.95 kg58 N−10%
2B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 13.1 lb5.95 kg58 N−10%
3G3196.0 .016NYS016plain 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N+1%
4D3146.8 .024NYNW024wound 15.7 lb7.12 kg70 N+8%
5A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 15.4 lb7.00 kg69 N+6%
6E282.4 .044NYNW044wound 15.5 lb7.05 kg69 N+7%
7B161.7 .060NYNW060wound 16.4 lb7.45 kg73 N+13%
8E141.2 .080NYNW080wound 12.6 lb5.71 kg56 N−14%
Total116.6 lb52.9 kg519 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop E (8-string), 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL0980 (this page) 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8014.6 lb6.61 kg65 N 116.6 lb52.9 kg519 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7419.5 lb8.84 kg87 N 156.0 lb70.8 kg694 Ntightuneven
Elixir 19062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7419.5 lb8.84 kg87 N 156.0 lb70.8 kg694 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop E (8-string), 25.5"

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80 deviation 16.7%, average 14.6 lb6.61 kg65 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65 deviation 25.9%, average 13.3 lb6.03 kg59 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 30.3%, average 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8

More for the NYXL0980

Other tunings on 25.5": F# standard (8-string)

Drop E (8-string) on other scales: 24.75", 25", 26.5", 27", 28", 26.5"–28" 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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