D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-32-42-54

D'Addario NYXL1254 (12-16-20-32-42-54) in C standard on a 24.75" scale

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 86.8 lb39.4 kg386 N in total and 14.5 lb6.56 kg64 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.7%). String 4 (Bb2) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension: 86.8 lb39.4 kg386 N
Average per string: 14.5 lb6.56 kg64 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: even; spread 6.7%

Tension per string

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.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Tension	vs avg
1	C4	261.6	.012	NYS012	plain	13.9 lb6.29 kg62 N	−4%
2	G3	196.0	.016	NYS016	plain	13.9 lb6.29 kg62 N	−4%
3	Eb3	155.6	.020	NYS020	plain	13.6 lb6.19 kg61 N	−6%
4	Bb2	116.5	.032	NYNW032	wound	16.3 lb7.40 kg73 N	+13%
5	F2	87.3	.042	NYNW042	wound	15.1 lb6.87 kg67 N	+5%
6	C2	65.4	.054	NYNW054	wound	13.9 lb6.33 kg62 N	−4%
Total						86.8 lb39.4 kg386 N

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Similar sets in C standard, 24.75"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL115BT	11-15-19-28-37-50	12.1 lb5.47 kg54 N	72.3 lb32.8 kg322 N	loose	very even
D'Addario ECG24	11-15-22-30-40-50	14.3 lb6.49 kg64 N	85.9 lb39.0 kg382 N	loose	uneven
NYXL1254 (this page)	12-16-20-32-42-54	14.5 lb6.56 kg64 N	86.8 lb39.4 kg386 N	loose	even
D'Addario EXL145	12-16-20-32-42-54	14.5 lb6.58 kg64 N	87.0 lb39.5 kg387 N	loose	even
D'Addario NYXL1260	12-16-20-34-46-60	15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N	94.6 lb42.9 kg421 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL148	12-16-20-34-46-60	15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N	94.9 lb43.0 kg422 N	medium	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in C standard, 24.75"

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

D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 10.7%, average 18.0 lb8.16 kg80 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 14.0%, average 15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 16.3%, average 14.5 lb6.58 kg64 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the NYXL1254

Other tunings on 24.75": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, B standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

C standard on other scales: 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28", 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 NYXL1254 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.