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 27" scale

12-54 Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 146.0 lb66.2 kg650 N in total and 24.3 lb11.04 kg108 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
146.0 lb66.2 kg650 N
Average per string
24.3 lb11.04 kg108 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

0102030lb0510kg050100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01223.3 lb10.59 kg104 N2Bb3.01623.3 lb10.58 kg104 N3Gb3.02022.9 lb10.41 kg102 N4Db3.03227.5 lb12.46 kg122 N5Ab2.04225.5 lb11.56 kg113 N6Eb2.05423.5 lb10.65 kg104 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 23.3 lb10.59 kg104 N−4%
2Bb3233.1 .016NYS016plain 23.3 lb10.58 kg104 N−4%
3Gb3185.0 .020NYS020plain 22.9 lb10.41 kg102 N−6%
4Db3138.6 .032NYNW032wound 27.5 lb12.46 kg122 N+13%
5Ab2103.8 .042NYNW042wound 25.5 lb11.56 kg113 N+5%
6Eb277.8 .054NYNW054wound 23.5 lb10.65 kg104 N−4%
Total146.0 lb66.2 kg650 N

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Similar sets in Eb standard, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1152 11-14-18-30-42-5221.2 lb9.60 kg94 N 127.0 lb57.6 kg565 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL116 11-14-18-30-42-5221.2 lb9.63 kg94 N 127.4 lb57.8 kg567 Ntightuneven
D'Addario NYXL1156 11-14-19-32-44-5623.0 lb10.45 kg102 N 138.2 lb62.7 kg615 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5623.1 lb10.48 kg103 N 138.7 lb62.9 kg617 Ntightuneven
NYXL1254 (this page) 12-16-20-32-42-5424.3 lb11.04 kg108 N 146.0 lb66.2 kg650 Ntighteven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5424.4 lb11.07 kg109 N 146.4 lb66.4 kg651 Ntighteven

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

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 2.8%, average 16.8 lb7.61 kg75 N, very even
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 5.9%, average 16.5 lb7.47 kg73 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 15.4%, average 19.5 lb8.83 kg87 N, even; same gauges: EXL115

More for the NYXL1254

Other tunings on 27": D standard, Drop C, C standard, B standard, Drop A

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