String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-34-46-60

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

12-60 Extra 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 133.8 lb60.7 kg595 N in total and 22.3 lb10.11 kg99 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.6%). String 4 (Db3) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
133.8 lb60.7 kg595 N
Average per string
22.3 lb10.11 kg99 N
Feel
tight
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 12.6%

Tension per string

01020lb0510kg050100Nmedium (10-46)set average1Eb4.01219.6 lb8.90 kg87 N2Bb3.01619.6 lb8.89 kg87 N3Gb3.02019.3 lb8.75 kg86 N4Db3.03425.6 lb11.61 kg114 N5Ab2.04625.1 lb11.40 kg112 N6Eb2.06024.6 lb11.14 kg109 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−12%
2Bb3233.1 .016NYS016plain 19.6 lb8.89 kg87 N−12%
3Gb3185.0 .020NYS020plain 19.3 lb8.75 kg86 N−14%
4Db3138.6 .034NYNW034wound 25.6 lb11.61 kg114 N+15%
5Ab2103.8 .046NYNW046wound 25.1 lb11.40 kg112 N+13%
6Eb277.8 .060NYNW060wound 24.6 lb11.14 kg109 N+10%
Total133.8 lb60.7 kg595 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Eb standard, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
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
D'Addario NYXL1254 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
NYXL1260 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6022.3 lb10.11 kg99 N 133.8 lb60.7 kg595 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6022.4 lb10.15 kg99 N 134.2 lb60.9 kg597 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 NYXL1260

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

Eb standard on other scales: 25", 25.5"

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