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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 Open D 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 Open D (D4 A3 F#3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N in total and 23.8 lb10.78 kg106 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 10.5%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +22% from the set average.

Total tension
142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N
Average per string
23.8 lb10.78 kg106 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 10.5%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1D4.01218.6 lb8.43 kg83 N2A3.01618.5 lb8.40 kg82 N3F#3.02426.8 lb12.17 kg119 N4D3.03229.9 lb13.57 kg133 N5A2.04228.9 lb13.12 kg129 N6D2.05319.8 lb8.97 kg88 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−22%
2A3220.0 .016XSPL016plain 18.5 lb8.40 kg82 N−22%
3F#3185.0 .024XSPB024wound 26.8 lb12.17 kg119 N+13%
4D3146.8 .032XSPB032wound 29.9 lb13.57 kg133 N+26%
5A2110.0 .042XSPB042wound 28.9 lb13.12 kg129 N+22%
6D273.4 .053XSPB053wound 19.8 lb8.97 kg88 N−17%
Total142.6 lb64.7 kg634 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Open D, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario XSABR1253 12-16-24-32-42-5323.2 lb10.53 kg103 N 139.3 lb63.2 kg620 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-5323.4 lb10.63 kg104 N 140.7 lb63.8 kg626 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11052 12-16-24-32-42-5323.4 lb10.63 kg104 N 140.7 lb63.8 kg626 Nloosemoderately uneven
XSAPB1253 (this page) 12-16-24-32-42-5323.8 lb10.78 kg106 N 142.6 lb64.7 kg634 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-5323.8 lb10.78 kg106 N 142.6 lb64.7 kg634 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5324.1 lb10.95 kg107 N 144.8 lb65.7 kg644 Nloosemoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Open D, 25.5"

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

  1. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 9.0%, average 25.6 lb11.63 kg114 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11182
  2. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 11.4%, average 27.2 lb12.32 kg121 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  3. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.1%, average 27.5 lb12.46 kg122 N, moderately uneven

More for the XSAPB1253

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

Open D 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.

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