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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 27" scale

09-80 Super Light 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to E standard (8-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 106.7 lb48.4 kg475 N in total and 13.3 lb6.05 kg59 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
106.7 lb48.4 kg475 N
Average per string
13.3 lb6.05 kg59 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)1D4.00911.7 lb5.29 kg52 N2A3.01211.7 lb5.29 kg52 N3F3.01613.1 lb5.94 kg58 N4C3.02414.0 lb6.34 kg62 N5G2.03213.7 lb6.23 kg61 N6D2.04413.8 lb6.27 kg62 N7A1.06014.6 lb6.63 kg65 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
1D4293.7 .009NYS009plain 11.7 lb5.29 kg52 N−13%
2A3220.0 .012NYS012plain 11.7 lb5.29 kg52 N−12%
3F3174.6 .016NYS016plain 13.1 lb5.94 kg58 N−2%
4C3130.8 .024NYNW024wound 14.0 lb6.34 kg62 N+5%
5G298.0 .032NYNW032wound 13.7 lb6.23 kg61 N+3%
6D273.4 .044NYNW044wound 13.8 lb6.27 kg62 N+4%
7A155.0 .060NYNW060wound 14.6 lb6.63 kg65 N+10%
8E141.2 .080NYNW080wound 14.1 lb6.40 kg63 N+6%
Total106.7 lb48.4 kg475 N

Open in the calculator

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL0980 (this page) 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8013.3 lb6.05 kg59 N 106.7 lb48.4 kg475 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.2 lb7.79 kg76 N 137.3 lb62.3 kg611 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL140-8 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.2 lb7.79 kg76 N 137.5 lb62.3 kg611 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.7 lb8.02 kg79 N 141.4 lb64.2 kg629 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.7 lb8.02 kg79 N 141.4 lb64.2 kg629 Nmediumuneven

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

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 22.5%, average 17.2 lb7.79 kg76 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8
  2. D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-80 deviation 22.8%, average 13.3 lb6.05 kg59 N, moderately uneven
  3. Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 25.1%, average 17.7 lb8.02 kg79 N, uneven; same gauges: 19062

More for the NYXL0980

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

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

Sources