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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 28" scale

09-80 Super Light 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to E standard (8-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 114.7 lb52.0 kg510 N in total and 14.3 lb6.51 kg64 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
114.7 lb52.0 kg510 N
Average per string
14.3 lb6.51 kg64 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)1D4.00912.5 lb5.69 kg56 N2A3.01212.6 lb5.69 kg56 N3F3.01614.1 lb6.39 kg63 N4C3.02415.0 lb6.82 kg67 N5G2.03214.8 lb6.70 kg66 N6D2.04414.9 lb6.75 kg66 N7A1.06015.7 lb7.13 kg70 N8E1.08015.2 lb6.88 kg67 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 12.5 lb5.69 kg56 N−13%
2A3220.0 .012NYS012plain 12.6 lb5.69 kg56 N−12%
3F3174.6 .016NYS016plain 14.1 lb6.39 kg63 N−2%
4C3130.8 .024NYNW024wound 15.0 lb6.82 kg67 N+5%
5G298.0 .032NYNW032wound 14.8 lb6.70 kg66 N+3%
6D273.4 .044NYNW044wound 14.9 lb6.75 kg66 N+4%
7A155.0 .060NYNW060wound 15.7 lb7.13 kg70 N+10%
8E141.2 .080NYNW080wound 15.2 lb6.88 kg67 N+6%
Total114.7 lb52.0 kg510 N

Open in the calculator

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
NYXL0980 (this page) 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8014.3 lb6.51 kg64 N 114.7 lb52.0 kg510 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7418.5 lb8.37 kg82 N 147.7 lb67.0 kg657 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140-8 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7418.5 lb8.38 kg82 N 147.8 lb67.1 kg658 Ntightuneven
Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7419.0 lb8.62 kg85 N 152.1 lb69.0 kg677 Ntightuneven
Elixir 19062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7419.0 lb8.62 kg85 N 152.1 lb69.0 kg677 Ntightuneven

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

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 17.4%, average 14.3 lb6.51 kg64 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 25.4%, average 18.5 lb8.37 kg82 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8
  3. D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65 deviation 26.0%, average 13.0 lb5.89 kg58 N, uneven

More for the NYXL0980

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

E standard (8-string) on other scales: 26.5", 27", 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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