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Elixir · POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 12-16-24-35-45-56

Elixir 11075 (12-16-24-35-45-56) in Drop D on a 25.5" scale

POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Light/Medium (12-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 165.8 lb75.2 kg738 N in total and 27.6 lb12.53 kg123 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 9.5%). String 6 (D2) deviates most: −20% from the set average.

Total tension
165.8 lb75.2 kg738 N
Average per string
27.6 lb12.53 kg123 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 9.5%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nmedium (12-53)set average1E4.01223.3 lb10.56 kg104 N2B3.01623.2 lb10.52 kg103 N3G3.02429.0 lb13.16 kg129 N4D3.03535.0 lb15.89 kg156 N5A2.04533.0 lb14.98 kg147 N6D2.05622.2 lb10.09 kg99 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 .012AR012plain 23.3 lb10.56 kg104 N−16%
2B3246.9 .016AR016plain 23.2 lb10.52 kg103 N−16%
3G3196.0 .024ABP024wound 29.0 lb13.16 kg129 N+5%
4D3146.8 .035ABP035wound 35.0 lb15.89 kg156 N+27%
5A2110.0 .045ABP045wound 33.0 lb14.98 kg147 N+20%
6D273.4 .056ABP056wound 22.2 lb10.09 kg99 N−20%
Total165.8 lb75.2 kg738 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5326.3 lb11.92 kg117 N 157.7 lb71.5 kg702 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-5327.2 lb12.35 kg121 N 163.3 lb74.1 kg726 Nmediummoderately uneven
11075 (this page) 12-16-24-35-45-5627.6 lb12.53 kg123 N 165.8 lb75.2 kg738 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11077 12-16-24-35-45-5627.6 lb12.53 kg123 N 165.8 lb75.2 kg738 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5328.1 lb12.75 kg125 N 168.6 lb76.5 kg750 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5628.4 lb12.90 kg126 N 170.6 lb77.4 kg759 Nmediummoderately uneven

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

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 7.2%, average 26.3 lb11.92 kg117 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11050, 11052
  2. D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 8.4%, average 25.9 lb11.76 kg115 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253
  3. Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-56 deviation 10.2%, average 27.6 lb12.53 kg123 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11077, 16077

More for the 11075

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

Drop 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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