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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 F# 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 F# standard (8-string) (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2 B1 F#1), pulls 144.6 lb65.6 kg643 N in total and 18.1 lb8.20 kg80 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.8%). String 1 (E4) deviates most: −13% from the set average.

Total tension
144.6 lb65.6 kg643 N
Average per string
18.1 lb8.20 kg80 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.8%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg020406080Nmedium (10-46)set average1E4.00915.8 lb7.17 kg70 N2B3.01215.8 lb7.17 kg70 N3G3.01617.7 lb8.05 kg79 N4D3.02418.9 lb8.59 kg84 N5A2.03218.6 lb8.44 kg83 N6E2.04418.7 lb8.50 kg83 N7B1.06019.8 lb8.98 kg88 N8F#1.08019.1 lb8.67 kg85 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 15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N−13%
2B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N−12%
3G3196.0 .016NYS016plain 17.7 lb8.05 kg79 N−2%
4D3146.8 .024NYNW024wound 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N+5%
5A2110.0 .032NYNW032wound 18.6 lb8.44 kg83 N+3%
6E282.4 .044NYNW044wound 18.7 lb8.50 kg83 N+4%
7B161.7 .060NYNW060wound 19.8 lb8.98 kg88 N+10%
8F#146.2 .080NYNW080wound 19.1 lb8.67 kg85 N+6%
Total144.6 lb65.6 kg643 N

Open in the calculator

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-6516.4 lb7.42 kg73 N 130.9 lb59.4 kg582 Nmediumuneven
NYXL0980 (this page) 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8018.1 lb8.20 kg80 N 144.6 lb65.6 kg643 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in F# 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 10.0%, average 18.1 lb8.20 kg80 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario EXL120-8 9-11-16-24-32-42-54-65 deviation 13.1%, average 16.4 lb7.42 kg73 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 47.2%, average 23.3 lb10.55 kg103 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8

More for the NYXL0980

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

F# standard (8-string) on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 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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