D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-30-42-52
D'Addario NYXL1052 (10-13-17-30-42-52) in Open D on a 25.5" scale
10-52 Light Top/Heavy Bottom, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Open D (D4 A3 F#3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 106.7 lb48.4 kg475 N in total and 17.8 lb8.07 kg79 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 30.1%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +43% from the set average.
- Total tension
- 106.7 lb48.4 kg475 N
- Average per string
- 17.8 lb8.07 kg79 N
- Balance
- uneven
- spread 30.1%
Tension per string
| # | Note | Hz | Gauge | Item | Type | Tension | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D4 | 293.7 | .010 | NYS010 | plain | 12.9 lb5.84 kg57 N | −28% |
| 2 | A3 | 220.0 | .013 | NYS013 | plain | 12.2 lb5.55 kg54 N | −31% |
| 3 | F#3 | 185.0 | .017 | NYS017 | plain | 14.8 lb6.71 kg66 N | −17% |
| 4 | D3 | 146.8 | .030 | NYNW030 | wound | 24.6 lb11.17 kg110 N | +38% |
| 5 | A2 | 110.0 | .042 | NYNW042 | wound | 25.5 lb11.58 kg114 N | +43% |
| 6 | D2 | 73.4 | .052 | NYNW052 | wound | 16.7 lb7.57 kg74 N | −6% |
| Total | 106.7 lb48.4 kg475 N | ||||||
Similar sets in Open D, 25.5"
| Set | Gauges | Avg per string | Total | Feel | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D'Addario NYXL1149 | 11-14-18-28-38-49 | 17.2 lb7.80 kg77 N | 103.2 lb46.8 kg459 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario EXL115 | 11-14-18-28-38-49 | 17.3 lb7.83 kg77 N | 103.5 lb47.0 kg461 N | medium | uneven |
| NYXL1052 (this page) | 10-13-17-30-42-52 | 17.8 lb8.07 kg79 N | 106.7 lb48.4 kg475 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario EXL140 | 10-13-17-30-42-52 | 17.8 lb8.09 kg79 N | 107.0 lb48.5 kg476 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario EXL115BT | 11-15-19-28-37-50 | 17.9 lb8.11 kg80 N | 107.3 lb48.7 kg477 N | medium | uneven |
| D'Addario EPN115 | 11-14-18-27-37-48 | 18.0 lb8.17 kg80 N | 108.0 lb49.0 kg480 N | medium | uneven |
Best match for a medium feel in Open D, 25.5"
Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).
- D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50
- D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49
- D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46
More for the NYXL1052
Other tunings on 25.5": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, Open G, DADGAD
Open D on other scales: 24.75", 25", 26.5", 27", 25.5"–27" 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
- D'Addario product page, tension chart for NYXL1052 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.