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D'Addario · NYXL · 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74

D'Addario NYXL1074 (10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74) in E standard (8-string) on a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale

10-74 Light Top/Heavy Bottom 8-String, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 26.5"–28" multiscale scale, tuned to E standard (8-string) (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2 A1 E1), pulls 140.1 lb63.5 kg623 N in total and 17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 23.1%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +33% from the set average.

Total tension
140.1 lb63.5 kg623 N
Average per string
17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 23.1%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01013.9 lb6.30 kg62 N2A3.01313.4 lb6.09 kg60 N3F3.01714.7 lb6.67 kg65 N4C3.03022.1 lb10.04 kg98 N5G2.04223.3 lb10.57 kg104 N6D2.05421.8 lb9.89 kg97 N7A1.06417.7 lb8.05 kg79 N8E1.07413.0 lb5.91 kg58 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
1D4293.7 .010NYS010plain 26.5" 13.9 lb6.30 kg62 N−21%
2A3220.0 .013NYS013plain 26.71" 13.4 lb6.09 kg60 N−23%
3F3174.6 .017NYS017plain 26.93" 14.7 lb6.67 kg65 N−16%
4C3130.8 .030NYNW030wound 27.14" 22.1 lb10.04 kg98 N+26%
5G298.0 .042NYNW042wound 27.36" 23.3 lb10.57 kg104 N+33%
6D273.4 .054NYNW054wound 27.57" 21.8 lb9.89 kg97 N+25%
7A155.0 .064NYNW064wound 27.79" 17.7 lb8.05 kg79 N+1%
8E141.2 .074NYNW074wound 28" 13.0 lb5.91 kg58 N−26%
Total140.1 lb63.5 kg623 N

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Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 26.5" (treble) to 28" (bass).

Similar sets in E standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL0980 9-12-16-24-32-44-60-8013.6 lb6.18 kg61 N 109.0 lb49.4 kg485 Nloosemoderately uneven
NYXL1074 (this page) 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.5 lb7.94 kg78 N 140.1 lb63.5 kg623 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL140-8 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7417.5 lb7.95 kg78 N 140.2 lb63.6 kg624 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7418.0 lb8.18 kg80 N 144.4 lb65.5 kg642 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-7418.0 lb8.18 kg80 N 144.4 lb65.5 kg642 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard (8-string), 26.5"–28" multiscale

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 22.1%, average 13.6 lb6.18 kg61 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1074 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 23.8%, average 17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL140-8
  3. Elixir 12062 10-13-17-30-42-54-64-74 deviation 26.9%, average 18.0 lb8.18 kg80 N, uneven; same gauges: 19062

More for the NYXL1074

E standard (8-string) on other scales: 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