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

D'Addario XSAPB1253 (12-16-24-32-42-53) in DADGAD 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 DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 137.4 lb62.3 kg611 N in total and 22.9 lb10.39 kg102 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.4%). String 2 (A3) deviates most: −24% from the set average.

Total tension
137.4 lb62.3 kg611 N
Average per string
22.9 lb10.39 kg102 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.4%

Tension per string

0102030lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1D4.01217.5 lb7.94 kg78 N2A3.01617.4 lb7.91 kg78 N3G3.02428.4 lb12.87 kg126 N4D3.03228.2 lb12.79 kg125 N5A2.04227.2 lb12.36 kg121 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−24%
2A3220.0 .016XSPL016plain 17.4 lb7.91 kg78 N−24%
3G3196.0 .024XSPB024wound 28.4 lb12.87 kg126 N+24%
4D3146.8 .032XSPB032wound 28.2 lb12.79 kg125 N+23%
5A2110.0 .042XSPB042wound 27.2 lb12.36 kg121 N+19%
6D273.4 .053XSPB053wound 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N−19%
Total137.4 lb62.3 kg611 N

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Similar sets in DADGAD, 24.75"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario XSABR1253 12-16-24-32-42-5322.4 lb10.15 kg100 N 134.3 lb60.9 kg597 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-5322.6 lb10.24 kg100 N 135.5 lb61.5 kg603 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11052 12-16-24-32-42-5322.6 lb10.24 kg100 N 135.5 lb61.5 kg603 Nloosemoderately uneven
XSAPB1253 (this page) 12-16-24-32-42-5322.9 lb10.39 kg102 N 137.4 lb62.3 kg611 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-5322.9 lb10.39 kg102 N 137.4 lb62.3 kg611 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5323.3 lb10.55 kg103 N 139.5 lb63.3 kg621 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 24.75"

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

  1. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.1%, average 26.2 lb11.87 kg116 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  2. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 12.7%, average 24.7 lb11.22 kg110 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11182
  3. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.8%, average 26.5 lb12.01 kg118 N, uneven

More for the XSAPB1253

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

DADGAD 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.

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