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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 27" scale

09-80 Super Light 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to Drop E (8-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1 E1), pulls 130.7 lb59.3 kg582 N in total and 16.3 lb7.41 kg73 N per string on average. That is a medium 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
130.7 lb59.3 kg582 N
Average per string
16.3 lb7.41 kg73 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.3%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.00914.7 lb6.67 kg65 N2B3.01214.7 lb6.67 kg65 N3G3.01616.5 lb7.48 kg73 N4D3.02417.6 lb7.98 kg78 N5A2.03217.3 lb7.85 kg77 N6E2.04417.4 lb7.91 kg78 N7B1.06018.4 lb8.35 kg82 N8E1.08014.1 lb6.40 kg63 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 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N−10%
2B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N−10%
3G3196.0 .016NYS016plain 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N+1%
4D3146.8 .024NYNW024wound 17.6 lb7.98 kg78 N+8%
5A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N+6%
6E282.4 .044NYNW044wound 17.4 lb7.91 kg78 N+7%
7B161.7 .060NYNW060wound 18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N+13%
8E141.2 .080NYNW080wound 14.1 lb6.40 kg63 N−14%
Total130.7 lb59.3 kg582 N

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Similar sets in Drop E (8-string), 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL0980 (this page) 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8016.3 lb7.41 kg73 N 130.7 lb59.3 kg582 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7421.2 lb9.63 kg94 N 169.9 lb77.1 kg756 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop E (8-string), 27"

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 9.9%, average 16.3 lb7.41 kg73 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65 deviation 19.7%, average 14.9 lb6.76 kg66 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 39.9%, average 21.2 lb9.63 kg94 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8

More for the NYXL0980

Other tunings on 27": F# standard (8-string), E standard (8-string)

Drop E (8-string) on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 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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