String Tension Lab Calculator

D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-34-46-60

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

12-60 Extra Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 27" scale, tuned to C standard (C4 G3 Eb3 Bb2 F2 C2), pulls 112.6 lb51.1 kg501 N in total and 18.8 lb8.51 kg83 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.6%). String 4 (Bb2) deviates most: +15% from the set average.

Total tension
112.6 lb51.1 kg501 N
Average per string
18.8 lb8.51 kg83 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

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nmedium (10-46)set average1C4.01216.5 lb7.49 kg73 N2G3.01616.5 lb7.48 kg73 N3Eb3.02016.2 lb7.36 kg72 N4Bb2.03421.5 lb9.77 kg96 N5F2.04621.2 lb9.60 kg94 N6C2.06020.7 lb9.37 kg92 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
1C4261.6 .012NYS012plain 16.5 lb7.49 kg73 N−12%
2G3196.0 .016NYS016plain 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N−12%
3Eb3155.6 .020NYS020plain 16.2 lb7.36 kg72 N−14%
4Bb2116.5 .034NYNW034wound 21.5 lb9.77 kg96 N+15%
5F287.3 .046NYNW046wound 21.2 lb9.60 kg94 N+13%
6C265.4 .060NYNW060wound 20.7 lb9.37 kg92 N+10%
Total112.6 lb51.1 kg501 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in C standard, 27"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EXL117 11-14-19-32-44-5616.3 lb7.41 kg73 N 98.1 lb44.5 kg436 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-5017.0 lb7.73 kg76 N 102.2 lb46.4 kg455 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario NYXL1254 12-16-20-32-42-5417.2 lb7.81 kg77 N 103.3 lb46.8 kg459 Nmediumeven
D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-5417.3 lb7.83 kg77 N 103.5 lb47.0 kg461 Nmediumeven
NYXL1260 (this page) 12-16-20-34-46-6018.8 lb8.51 kg83 N 112.6 lb51.1 kg501 Ntightuneven
D'Addario EXL148 12-16-20-34-46-6018.8 lb8.54 kg84 N 112.9 lb51.2 kg502 Ntightuneven

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

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 6.7%, average 17.2 lb7.81 kg77 N, even; same gauges: EXL145
  2. D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-50 deviation 14.4%, average 17.0 lb7.73 kg76 N, uneven
  3. D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 16.2%, average 14.3 lb6.51 kg64 N, very even

More for the NYXL1260

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

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