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Elixir · POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 11-15-22-32-42-52

Elixir 11025 (11-15-22-32-42-52) in E standard on a 25" scale

POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Custom Light (11-52) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 141.1 lb64.0 kg628 N in total and 23.5 lb10.67 kg105 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.6%). String 4 (D3) deviates most: +23% from the set average.

Total tension
141.1 lb64.0 kg628 N
Average per string
23.5 lb10.67 kg105 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.6%

Tension per string

0102030lb0510kg050100Nset averagemedium (12-53)1E4.01118.9 lb8.59 kg84 N2B3.01519.2 lb8.73 kg86 N3G3.02224.0 lb10.91 kg107 N4D3.03228.9 lb13.09 kg128 N5A2.04226.9 lb12.22 kg120 N6E2.05223.1 lb10.47 kg103 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 .011AR011plain 18.9 lb8.59 kg84 N−19%
2B3246.9 .015AR015plain 19.2 lb8.73 kg86 N−18%
3G3196.0 .022ABP022wound 24.0 lb10.91 kg107 N+2%
4D3146.8 .032ABP032wound 28.9 lb13.09 kg128 N+23%
5A2110.0 .042ABP042wound 26.9 lb12.22 kg120 N+15%
6E282.4 .052ABP052wound 23.1 lb10.47 kg103 N−2%
Total141.1 lb64.0 kg628 N

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Similar sets in E standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 16002 10-14-23-30-39-4721.6 lb9.81 kg96 N 129.8 lb58.9 kg577 Nloosemoderately uneven
11025 (this page) 11-15-22-32-42-5223.5 lb10.67 kg105 N 141.1 lb64.0 kg628 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11027 11-15-22-32-42-5223.5 lb10.67 kg105 N 141.1 lb64.0 kg628 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario EJ26 11-15-22-32-42-5223.8 lb10.80 kg106 N 142.8 lb64.8 kg635 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16027 11-15-22-32-42-5224.1 lb10.92 kg107 N 144.5 lb65.5 kg643 Nloosemoderately uneven
D'Addario XSABR1253 12-16-24-32-42-5325.2 lb11.42 kg112 N 151.0 lb68.5 kg672 Nloosevery 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 11025

Other tunings on 25": Drop D, Eb standard

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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