D'Addario · XS Nickel (coated) · 10-13-17-26-36-46

D'Addario XSE1046 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in DADGAD on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

10-46 Regular Light, XS Nickel Coated Electric Guitar Strings on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 98.2 lb44.6 kg437 N in total and 16.4 lb7.43 kg73 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 19.4%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +27% from the set average.

Total tension: 98.2 lb44.6 kg437 N
Average per string: 16.4 lb7.43 kg73 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 19.4%

Tension per string

The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 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	Length	Tension	vs avg
1	D4	293.7	.010	XSPL010	plain	25.5"	12.9 lb5.84 kg57 N	−21%
2	A3	220.0	.013	XSPL013	plain	25.8"	12.5 lb5.68 kg56 N	−24%
3	G3	196.0	.017	XSPL017	plain	26.1"	17.4 lb7.89 kg77 N	+6%
4	D3	146.8	.026	XSNW026	wound	26.4"	19.6 lb8.90 kg87 N	+20%
5	A2	110.0	.036	XSNW036	wound	26.7"	20.8 lb9.46 kg93 N	+27%
6	D2	73.4	.046	XSNW046	wound	27"	15.0 lb6.79 kg67 N	−9%
Total							98.2 lb44.6 kg437 N

Open in the calculator

Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in DADGAD, 25.5"–27" multiscale

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario EPS510	10-13-17-26-36-46	15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N	94.6 lb42.9 kg421 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL110BT	10-13.5-17-25-34-46	16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N	96.1 lb43.6 kg428 N	medium	uneven
XSE1046 (this page)	10-13-17-26-36-46	16.4 lb7.43 kg73 N	98.2 lb44.6 kg437 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario NYXL1046	10-13-17-26-36-46	16.4 lb7.43 kg73 N	98.2 lb44.6 kg437 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL110	10-13-17-26-36-46	16.4 lb7.44 kg73 N	98.4 lb44.6 kg438 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario NYXL1149	11-14-18-28-38-49	18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N	111.8 lb50.7 kg497 N	tight	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 25.5"–27" multiscale

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 15.1%, average 16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N, uneven
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 17.8%, average 15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 21.2%, average 18.6 lb8.45 kg83 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL115

More for the XSE1046

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D

DADGAD on other scales: 24.75", 25", 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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 XSE1046 (2026-10-31): unit weights derived from the published tensions, cross-checked across sets.