String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-34-46-60

D'Addario NYXL1260 (12-16-20-34-46-60) in Drop C on a 24.75" scale

12-60 Extra Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 114.7 lb52.0 kg510 N in total and 19.1 lb8.67 kg85 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.9%). String 4 (C3) deviates most: +19% from the set average.

Total tension
114.7 lb52.0 kg510 N
Average per string
19.1 lb8.67 kg85 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.9%

Tension per string

01020lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1D4.01217.5 lb7.93 kg78 N2A3.01617.5 lb7.92 kg78 N3F3.02017.2 lb7.79 kg76 N4C3.03422.8 lb10.35 kg101 N5G2.04622.4 lb10.16 kg100 N6C2.06017.4 lb7.88 kg77 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
1D4293.7 .012NYS012plain 17.5 lb7.93 kg78 N−9%
2A3220.0 .016NYS016plain 17.5 lb7.92 kg78 N−9%
3F3174.6 .020NYS020plain 17.2 lb7.79 kg76 N−10%
4C3130.8 .034NYNW034wound 22.8 lb10.35 kg101 N+19%
5G298.0 .046NYNW046wound 22.4 lb10.16 kg100 N+17%
6C265.4 .060NYNW060wound 17.4 lb7.88 kg77 N−9%
Total114.7 lb52.0 kg510 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop C, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5616.7 lb7.55 kg74 N 99.9 lb45.3 kg444 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5017.5 lb7.92 kg78 N 104.8 lb47.5 kg466 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5417.6 lb7.99 kg78 N 105.7 lb47.9 kg470 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5417.7 lb8.01 kg79 N 106.0 lb48.1 kg471 Nmediummoderately uneven
NYXL1260 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6019.1 lb8.67 kg85 N 114.7 lb52.0 kg510 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6019.2 lb8.70 kg85 N 115.0 lb52.2 kg512 Ntightuneven

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

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

  1. D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 12.2%, average 17.6 lb7.99 kg78 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL145
  2. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 16.3%, average 14.7 lb6.66 kg65 N, moderately uneven
  3. D'Addario EPN115 11-14-18-27-37-48 deviation 17.2%, average 14.7 lb6.66 kg65 N, moderately uneven

More for the NYXL1260

Other tunings on 24.75": Eb standard, D standard, C standard, B standard, Drop A

Drop C 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.

Sources