String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-32-42-54

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

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 122.7 lb55.7 kg546 N in total and 20.5 lb9.28 kg91 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is even (spread 6.7%). String 4 (Db3) deviates most: +13% from the set average.

Total tension
122.7 lb55.7 kg546 N
Average per string
20.5 lb9.28 kg91 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 6.7%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01219.6 lb8.90 kg87 N2Bb3.01619.6 lb8.89 kg87 N3Gb3.02019.3 lb8.75 kg86 N4Db3.03223.1 lb10.47 kg103 N5Ab2.04221.4 lb9.72 kg95 N6Eb2.05419.7 lb8.95 kg88 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
1Eb4311.1 .012NYS012plain 19.6 lb8.90 kg87 N−4%
2Bb3233.1 .016NYS016plain 19.6 lb8.89 kg87 N−4%
3Gb3185.0 .020NYS020plain 19.3 lb8.75 kg86 N−6%
4Db3138.6 .032NYNW032wound 23.1 lb10.47 kg103 N+13%
5Ab2103.8 .042NYNW042wound 21.4 lb9.72 kg95 N+5%
6Eb277.8 .054NYNW054wound 19.7 lb8.95 kg88 N−4%
Total122.7 lb55.7 kg546 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5619.4 lb8.78 kg86 N 116.2 lb52.7 kg517 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5619.4 lb8.81 kg86 N 116.5 lb52.9 kg518 Ntightuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5020.2 lb9.18 kg90 N 121.5 lb55.1 kg540 Ntightuneven
NYXL1254 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5420.5 lb9.28 kg91 N 122.7 lb55.7 kg546 Ntighteven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5420.5 lb9.30 kg91 N 123.0 lb55.8 kg547 Ntighteven
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-6022.3 lb10.11 kg99 N 133.8 lb60.7 kg595 Ntightuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 2.6%, average 17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 7.2%, average 16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1149
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 9.0%, average 17.1 lb7.75 kg76 N, moderately uneven

More for the NYXL1254

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

Eb standard on other scales: 25", 25.5", 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.

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