String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

D'Addario · XS Phosphor Bronze (coated) · 12-16-24-32-42-53

D'Addario XSAPB1253 (12-16-24-32-42-53) in D standard on a 24.75" scale

12-53 Light, XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 24.75" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 120.1 lb54.5 kg534 N in total and 20.0 lb9.08 kg89 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is very even (spread 0.1%). String 2 (A3) deviates most: −13% from the set average.

Total tension
120.1 lb54.5 kg534 N
Average per string
20.0 lb9.08 kg89 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
very even
spread 0.1%

Tension per string

01020lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1D4.01217.5 lb7.94 kg78 N2A3.01617.4 lb7.91 kg78 N3F3.02422.5 lb10.22 kg100 N4C3.03222.4 lb10.15 kg100 N5G2.04221.6 lb9.81 kg96 N6D2.05318.6 lb8.45 kg83 N
The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 12-53 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (26.8 lb12.14 kg119 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 .012XSPL012plain 17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N−13%
2A3220.0 .016XSPL016plain 17.4 lb7.91 kg78 N−13%
3F3174.6 .024XSPB024wound 22.5 lb10.22 kg100 N+13%
4C3130.8 .032XSPB032wound 22.4 lb10.15 kg100 N+12%
5G298.0 .042XSPB042wound 21.6 lb9.81 kg96 N+8%
6D273.4 .053XSPB053wound 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N−7%
Total120.1 lb54.5 kg534 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario XSABR1253 12-16-24-32-42-5319.6 lb8.88 kg87 N 117.5 lb53.3 kg523 Nloosevery even
Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-5319.8 lb8.96 kg88 N 118.6 lb53.8 kg527 Nloosevery even
Elixir 11052 12-16-24-32-42-5319.8 lb8.96 kg88 N 118.6 lb53.8 kg527 Nloosevery even
XSAPB1253 (this page) 12-16-24-32-42-5320.0 lb9.08 kg89 N 120.1 lb54.5 kg534 Nloosevery even
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-5320.0 lb9.08 kg89 N 120.1 lb54.5 kg534 Nloosevery even
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5320.3 lb9.22 kg90 N 121.9 lb55.3 kg542 Nloosevery even

Best match for a medium feel in D standard, 24.75"

Ranked by how close every string is to 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N (lower deviation is better).

  1. Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.7%, average 23.5 lb10.65 kg104 N, very even; same gauges: 11100, 11102
  2. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 13.9%, average 23.1 lb10.49 kg103 N, very even
  3. Elixir 11125 16-18-28-35-45-56 deviation 16.8%, average 25.8 lb11.69 kg115 N, uneven

More for the XSAPB1253

Other tunings on 24.75": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

D 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