String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-34-46-60

D'Addario NYXL1260 (12-16-20-34-46-60) in B standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

12-60 Extra Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to B standard (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 B1), pulls 95.2 lb43.2 kg424 N in total and 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 15.9%). String 1 (B3) deviates most: −17% from the set average.

Total tension
95.2 lb43.2 kg424 N
Average per string
15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 15.9%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1B3.01213.1 lb5.95 kg58 N2F#3.01613.4 lb6.09 kg60 N3D3.02013.5 lb6.13 kg60 N4A2.03418.3 lb8.32 kg82 N5E2.04618.4 lb8.36 kg82 N6B1.06018.4 lb8.35 kg82 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 Length Tensionvs avg
1B3246.9 .012NYS012plain 25.5" 13.1 lb5.95 kg58 N−17%
2F#3185.0 .016NYS016plain 25.8" 13.4 lb6.09 kg60 N−15%
3D3146.8 .020NYS020plain 26.1" 13.5 lb6.13 kg60 N−15%
4A2110.0 .034NYNW034wound 26.4" 18.3 lb8.32 kg82 N+16%
5E282.4 .046NYNW046wound 26.7" 18.4 lb8.36 kg82 N+16%
6B161.7 .060NYNW060wound 27" 18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N+16%
Total95.2 lb43.2 kg424 N

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Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in B standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5414.5 lb6.58 kg65 N 87.1 lb39.5 kg387 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5414.5 lb6.60 kg65 N 87.3 lb39.6 kg388 Nloosemoderately uneven
NYXL1260 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6015.9 lb7.20 kg71 N 95.2 lb43.2 kg424 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6015.9 lb7.22 kg71 N 95.5 lb43.3 kg425 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-6218.1 lb8.19 kg80 N 108.4 lb49.2 kg482 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in B standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario EXL158 13-17-26-36-46-62 deviation 13.2%, average 18.1 lb8.19 kg80 N, moderately uneven
  2. D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 16.4%, average 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
  3. D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 16.7%, average 14.5 lb6.60 kg65 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1254

More for the NYXL1260

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: D standard, Drop C, C standard, Drop A

B standard on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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