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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 Drop C on a 25.5" scale

12-53 Light, XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 123.4 lb56.0 kg549 N in total and 20.6 lb9.33 kg91 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.9%). String 6 (C2) deviates most: −24% from the set average.

Total tension
123.4 lb56.0 kg549 N
Average per string
20.6 lb9.33 kg91 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.9%

Tension per string

01020lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1D4.01218.6 lb8.43 kg83 N2A3.01618.5 lb8.40 kg82 N3F3.02423.9 lb10.85 kg106 N4C3.03223.8 lb10.77 kg106 N5G2.04223.0 lb10.41 kg102 N6C2.05315.7 lb7.12 kg70 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 18.6 lb8.43 kg83 N−10%
2A3220.0 .016XSPL016plain 18.5 lb8.40 kg82 N−10%
3F3174.6 .024XSPB024wound 23.9 lb10.85 kg106 N+16%
4C3130.8 .032XSPB032wound 23.8 lb10.77 kg106 N+15%
5G298.0 .042XSPB042wound 23.0 lb10.41 kg102 N+12%
6C265.4 .053XSPB053wound 15.7 lb7.12 kg70 N−24%
Total123.4 lb56.0 kg549 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop C, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-5320.3 lb9.20 kg90 N 121.8 lb55.2 kg542 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11052 12-16-24-32-42-5320.3 lb9.20 kg90 N 121.8 lb55.2 kg542 Nloosemoderately uneven
XSAPB1253 (this page) 12-16-24-32-42-5320.6 lb9.33 kg91 N 123.4 lb56.0 kg549 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-5320.6 lb9.33 kg91 N 123.4 lb56.0 kg549 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5320.9 lb9.46 kg93 N 125.2 lb56.8 kg557 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-5321.6 lb9.80 kg96 N 129.6 lb58.8 kg577 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop C, 25.5"

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 12.9%, average 24.1 lb10.95 kg107 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11100, 11102
  2. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 14.2%, average 23.8 lb10.79 kg106 N, moderately uneven
  3. Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-56 deviation 18.6%, average 22.6 lb10.24 kg100 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11075, 11077

More for the XSAPB1253

Other tunings on 25.5": E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

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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