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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 E standard on a 25" scale

12-53 Light, XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic Guitar Strings on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 154.4 lb70.0 kg687 N in total and 25.7 lb11.67 kg114 N per string on average. That is a loose 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
154.4 lb70.0 kg687 N
Average per string
25.7 lb11.67 kg114 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

0102030lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1E4.01222.5 lb10.21 kg100 N2B3.01622.4 lb10.17 kg100 N3G3.02429.0 lb13.13 kg129 N4D3.03228.8 lb13.05 kg128 N5A2.04227.8 lb12.61 kg124 N6E2.05324.0 lb10.86 kg107 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
1E4329.6 .012XSPL012plain 22.5 lb10.21 kg100 N−13%
2B3246.9 .016XSPL016plain 22.4 lb10.17 kg100 N−13%
3G3196.0 .024XSPB024wound 29.0 lb13.13 kg129 N+13%
4D3146.8 .032XSPB032wound 28.8 lb13.05 kg128 N+12%
5A2110.0 .042XSPB042wound 27.8 lb12.61 kg124 N+8%
6E282.4 .053XSPB053wound 24.0 lb10.86 kg107 N−7%
Total154.4 lb70.0 kg687 N

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Similar sets in E standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario XSABR1253 12-16-24-32-42-5325.2 lb11.42 kg112 N 151.0 lb68.5 kg672 Nloosevery even
Elixir 11050 12-16-24-32-42-5325.4 lb11.52 kg113 N 152.4 lb69.1 kg678 Nloosevery even
Elixir 11052 12-16-24-32-42-5325.4 lb11.52 kg113 N 152.4 lb69.1 kg678 Nloosevery even
XSAPB1253 (this page) 12-16-24-32-42-5325.7 lb11.67 kg114 N 154.4 lb70.0 kg687 Nloosevery even
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-5325.7 lb11.67 kg114 N 154.4 lb70.0 kg687 Nloosevery even
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5326.1 lb11.85 kg116 N 156.7 lb71.1 kg697 Nmediumvery even

Best match for a medium feel in E standard, 25"

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

  1. Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 3.2%, average 26.1 lb11.85 kg116 N, very even; same gauges: 11050, 11052
  2. D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 3.9%, average 25.7 lb11.67 kg114 N, very even; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253
  3. Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 6.7%, average 27.0 lb12.24 kg120 N, even; same gauges: 16182

More for the XSAPB1253

Other tunings on 25": Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Open G, Open D, DADGAD

E standard on other scales: 24.75", 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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