String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-30-42-52

D'Addario NYXL1052 (10-13-17-30-42-52) in Eb standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

10-52 Light Top/Heavy Bottom, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 113.4 lb51.5 kg505 N in total and 18.9 lb8.58 kg84 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 23.3%). String 5 (Ab2) deviates most: +32% from the set average.

Total tension
113.4 lb51.5 kg505 N
Average per string
18.9 lb8.58 kg84 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 23.3%

Tension per string

01020lb0510kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01014.4 lb6.55 kg64 N2Bb3.01314.1 lb6.38 kg63 N3Gb3.01715.5 lb7.03 kg69 N4Db3.03023.5 lb10.66 kg105 N5Ab2.04224.9 lb11.31 kg111 N6Eb2.05221.0 lb9.52 kg93 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1Eb4311.1 .010NYS010plain 25.5" 14.4 lb6.55 kg64 N−24%
2Bb3233.1 .013NYS013plain 25.8" 14.1 lb6.38 kg63 N−26%
3Gb3185.0 .017NYS017plain 26.1" 15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N−18%
4Db3138.6 .030NYNW030wound 26.4" 23.5 lb10.66 kg105 N+24%
5Ab2103.8 .042NYNW042wound 26.7" 24.9 lb11.31 kg111 N+32%
6Eb277.8 .052NYNW052wound 27" 21.0 lb9.52 kg93 N+11%
Total113.4 lb51.5 kg505 N

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Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in Eb standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-4918.4 lb8.35 kg82 N 110.5 lb50.1 kg491 Ntightmoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-4918.5 lb8.38 kg82 N 110.8 lb50.3 kg493 Ntightmoderately uneven
NYXL1052 (this page) 10-13-17-30-42-5218.9 lb8.58 kg84 N 113.4 lb51.5 kg505 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL140 10-13-17-30-42-5219.0 lb8.60 kg84 N 113.7 lb51.6 kg506 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-5019.2 lb8.70 kg85 N 115.1 lb52.2 kg512 Ntighteven
D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-4819.3 lb8.74 kg86 N 115.6 lb52.4 kg514 Ntightuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 8.9%, average 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N, even
  2. D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.0%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSE1046, EXL110, EPS510
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.7%, average 18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115

More for the NYXL1052

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: E standard, Drop D, D standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

Eb standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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