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

D'Addario XSAPB1253 (12-16-24-32-42-53) in E standard 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 E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 160.6 lb72.9 kg715 N in total and 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is very even (spread 0.1%). String 2 (B3) deviates most: −13% from the set average.

Total tension: 160.6 lb72.9 kg715 N
Average per string: 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: very even; spread 0.1%

Tension per string

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.

#	Note	Hz	Gauge	Item	Type	Tension	vs avg
1	E4	329.6	.012	XSPL012	plain	23.4 lb10.62 kg104 N	−13%
2	B3	246.9	.016	XSPL016	plain	23.3 lb10.58 kg104 N	−13%
3	G3	196.0	.024	XSPB024	wound	30.1 lb13.66 kg134 N	+13%
4	D3	146.8	.032	XSPB032	wound	29.9 lb13.57 kg133 N	+12%
5	A2	110.0	.042	XSPB042	wound	28.9 lb13.12 kg129 N	+8%
6	E2	82.4	.053	XSPB053	wound	24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N	−7%
Total						160.6 lb72.9 kg715 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in E standard, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario XSABR1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	26.2 lb11.88 kg116 N	157.1 lb71.3 kg699 N	medium	very even
Elixir 11050	12-16-24-32-42-53	26.4 lb11.99 kg118 N	158.6 lb71.9 kg705 N	medium	very even
Elixir 11052	12-16-24-32-42-53	26.4 lb11.99 kg118 N	158.6 lb71.9 kg705 N	medium	very even
XSAPB1253 (this page)	12-16-24-32-42-53	26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N	160.6 lb72.9 kg715 N	medium	very even
D'Addario EJ16	12-16-24-32-42-53	26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N	160.6 lb72.9 kg715 N	medium	very even
Elixir 16052	12-16-24-32-42-53	27.2 lb12.33 kg121 N	163.1 lb74.0 kg725 N	medium	very even

Best match for a medium feel in E standard, 25.5"

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

D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 0.0%, average 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N, very even; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253
Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 2.0%, average 26.4 lb11.99 kg118 N, very even; same gauges: 11052, 16052
Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 8.7%, average 28.1 lb12.74 kg125 N, even; same gauges: 16182

More for the XSAPB1253

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

E standard on other scales: 24.75", 25"

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 XSAPB1253 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.