D'Addario · NYXL · 12-16-20-34-46-60

D'Addario NYXL1260 (12-16-20-34-46-60) in Drop A on a 28" scale

12-60 Extra Heavy, NYXL Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 28" scale, tuned to Drop A (B3 F#3 D3 A2 E2 A1), pulls 103.8 lb47.1 kg462 N in total and 17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 12.9%). String 4 (A2) deviates most: +19% from the set average.

Total tension: 103.8 lb47.1 kg462 N
Average per string: 17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 12.9%

Tension per string

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.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Tension	vs avg
1	B3	246.9	.012	NYS012	plain	15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N	−9%
2	F#3	185.0	.016	NYS016	plain	15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N	−9%
3	D3	146.8	.020	NYS020	plain	15.5 lb7.05 kg69 N	−10%
4	A2	110.0	.034	NYNW034	wound	20.6 lb9.36 kg92 N	+19%
5	E2	82.4	.046	NYNW046	wound	20.3 lb9.20 kg90 N	+17%
6	A1	55.0	.060	NYNW060	wound	15.7 lb7.13 kg70 N	−9%
Total						103.8 lb47.1 kg462 N

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Similar sets in Drop A, 28"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EXL117	11-14-19-32-44-56	15.1 lb6.84 kg67 N	90.4 lb41.0 kg402 N	loose	uneven
D'Addario ECG24	11-15-22-30-40-50	15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N	94.8 lb43.0 kg422 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario NYXL1254	12-16-20-32-42-54	15.9 lb7.23 kg71 N	95.7 lb43.4 kg426 N	medium	moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL145	12-16-20-32-42-54	16.0 lb7.25 kg71 N	95.9 lb43.5 kg427 N	medium	moderately uneven
NYXL1260 (this page)	12-16-20-34-46-60	17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N	103.8 lb47.1 kg462 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL148	12-16-20-34-46-60	17.4 lb7.87 kg77 N	104.1 lb47.2 kg463 N	medium	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop A, 28"

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

D'Addario EXL145 12-16-20-32-42-54 deviation 12.6%, average 16.0 lb7.25 kg71 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1254
D'Addario NYXL1260 12-16-20-34-46-60 deviation 13.1%, average 17.3 lb7.85 kg77 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL148
D'Addario ECG24 11-15-22-30-40-50 deviation 18.4%, average 15.8 lb7.17 kg70 N, uneven

More for the NYXL1260

Other tunings on 28": C standard, B standard

Drop A on other scales: 24.75", 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

D'Addario product page, tension chart for NYXL1260 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.