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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 E standard (8-string) on a 26.5" scale

09-80 Super Light 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to E standard (8-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 102.8 lb46.6 kg457 N in total and 12.8 lb5.83 kg57 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.8%). String 1 (D4) deviates most: −13% from the set average.

Total tension
102.8 lb46.6 kg457 N
Average per string
12.8 lb5.83 kg57 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.8%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.00911.2 lb5.10 kg50 N2A3.01211.2 lb5.10 kg50 N3F3.01612.6 lb5.72 kg56 N4C3.02413.5 lb6.10 kg60 N5G2.03213.2 lb6.00 kg59 N6D2.04413.3 lb6.04 kg59 N7A1.06014.1 lb6.38 kg63 N8E1.08013.6 lb6.16 kg60 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 .009NYS009plain 11.2 lb5.10 kg50 N−13%
2A3220.0 .012NYS012plain 11.2 lb5.10 kg50 N−12%
3F3174.6 .016NYS016plain 12.6 lb5.72 kg56 N−2%
4C3130.8 .024NYNW024wound 13.5 lb6.10 kg60 N+5%
5G298.0 .032NYNW032wound 13.2 lb6.00 kg59 N+3%
6D273.4 .044NYNW044wound 13.3 lb6.04 kg59 N+4%
7A155.0 .060NYNW060wound 14.1 lb6.38 kg63 N+10%
8E141.2 .080NYNW080wound 13.6 lb6.16 kg60 N+6%
Total102.8 lb46.6 kg457 N

Open in the calculator

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL0980 (this page) 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8012.8 lb5.83 kg57 N 102.8 lb46.6 kg457 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7416.5 lb7.50 kg74 N 132.3 lb60.0 kg588 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL140-8 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7416.6 lb7.51 kg74 N 132.4 lb60.1 kg589 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.0 lb7.72 kg76 N 136.2 lb61.8 kg606 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.0 lb7.72 kg76 N 136.2 lb61.8 kg606 Nmediumuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 21.9%, average 16.5 lb7.50 kg74 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8
  2. Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 23.9%, average 17.0 lb7.72 kg76 N, uneven; same gauges: 19062
  3. D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80 deviation 25.5%, average 12.8 lb5.83 kg57 N, moderately uneven

More for the NYXL0980

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

E standard (8-string) on other scales: 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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