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

D'Addario NYXL0980 (9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80) in E standard (8-string) on a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale

09-80 Super Light 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale, tuned to E standard (8-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 109.0 lb49.4 kg485 N in total and 13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.0%). String 1 (D4) deviates most: −17% from the set average.

Total tension: 109.0 lb49.4 kg485 N
Average per string: 13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 11.0%

Tension per string

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.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Length	Tension	vs avg
1	D4	293.7	.009	NYS009	plain	26.5"	11.2 lb5.10 kg50 N	−17%
2	A3	220.0	.012	NYS012	plain	26.71"	11.4 lb5.18 kg51 N	−16%
3	F3	174.6	.016	NYS016	plain	26.93"	13.0 lb5.91 kg58 N	−4%
4	C3	130.8	.024	NYNW024	wound	27.14"	14.1 lb6.40 kg63 N	+4%
5	G2	98.0	.032	NYNW032	wound	27.36"	14.1 lb6.40 kg63 N	+4%
6	D2	73.4	.044	NYNW044	wound	27.57"	14.4 lb6.54 kg64 N	+6%
7	A1	55.0	.060	NYNW060	wound	27.79"	15.5 lb7.02 kg69 N	+14%
8	E1	41.2	.080	NYNW080	wound	28"	15.2 lb6.88 kg67 N	+11%
Total							109.0 lb49.4 kg485 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 26.5" (treble) to 28" (bass).

Similar sets in E standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
NYXL0980 (this page)	9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80	13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N	109.0 lb49.4 kg485 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N	140.1 lb63.5 kg623 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL140-8	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	17.5 lb7.95 kg78 N	140.2 lb63.6 kg624 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 12062	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N	144.4 lb65.5 kg642 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 19062	10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74	18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N	144.4 lb65.5 kg642 N	medium	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

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

D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80 deviation 22.1%, average 13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 23.8%, average 17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8
Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 26.9%, average 18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N, uneven; same gauges: 19062

More for the NYXL0980

Other tunings on 26.5"–28" multiscale: F# standard (8-string), Drop E (8-string)

E standard (8-string) on other scales: 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.

Sources

D'Addario product page, tension chart for NYXL0980 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.