Elixir · POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 12-16-24-32-42-53

Elixir 11050 (12-16-24-32-42-53) in Drop D on a 25" scale

POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Light (12-53) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N in total and 24.6 lb11.15 kg109 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.5%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −22% from the set average.

Total tension: 147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N
Average per string: 24.6 lb11.15 kg109 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: moderately uneven; spread 7.5%

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	AR012	plain	22.4 lb10.15 kg100 N	−9%
2	B3	246.9	.016	AR016	plain	22.3 lb10.11 kg99 N	−9%
3	G3	196.0	.024	ABP024	wound	27.9 lb12.65 kg124 N	+14%
4	D3	146.8	.032	ABP032	wound	28.9 lb13.09 kg128 N	+17%
5	A2	110.0	.042	ABP042	wound	26.9 lb12.22 kg120 N	+10%
6	D2	73.4	.053	ABP053	wound	19.1 lb8.66 kg85 N	−22%
Total						147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 25"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario XSABR1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.4 lb11.06 kg108 N	146.3 lb66.3 kg651 N	loose	moderately uneven
11050 (this page)	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.6 lb11.15 kg109 N	147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11052	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.6 lb11.15 kg109 N	147.4 lb66.9 kg656 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario XSAPB1253	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N	149.5 lb67.8 kg665 N	loose	moderately uneven
D'Addario EJ16	12-16-24-32-42-53	24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N	149.5 lb67.8 kg665 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 16052	12-16-24-32-42-53	25.3 lb11.46 kg112 N	151.6 lb68.8 kg674 N	loose	moderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop D, 25"

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

Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 8.9%, average 25.3 lb11.46 kg112 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11050, 11052
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-56 deviation 9.6%, average 26.6 lb12.05 kg118 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11077, 16077
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 10.3%, average 24.9 lb11.30 kg111 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253

More for the 11050

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

Drop D 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.

Sources

Elixir Strings — String Tension for Tuning Guitar (2026-11-01): unit weights derived from tensions printed in whole pounds; rounding leaves up to ±2% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.