String Tension Lab All sets Calculator

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

Elixir 11077 (12-16-24-35-45-56) in Eb standard on a 25.5" scale

NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Light/Medium (12-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 152.9 lb69.3 kg680 N in total and 25.5 lb11.56 kg113 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 7.7%). String 3 (Gb3) deviates most: +1% from the set average.

Total tension
152.9 lb69.3 kg680 N
Average per string
25.5 lb11.56 kg113 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 7.7%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nset averagemedium (12-53)1Eb4.01220.8 lb9.41 kg92 N2Bb3.01620.7 lb9.37 kg92 N3Gb3.02425.9 lb11.73 kg115 N4Db3.03531.2 lb14.16 kg139 N5Ab2.04529.4 lb13.35 kg131 N6Eb2.05625.0 lb11.32 kg111 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
1Eb4311.1 .012AR012plain 20.8 lb9.41 kg92 N−19%
2Bb3233.1 .016AR016plain 20.7 lb9.37 kg92 N−19%
3Gb3185.0 .024ABN024wound 25.9 lb11.73 kg115 N+1%
4Db3138.6 .035ABN035wound 31.2 lb14.16 kg139 N+22%
5Ab2103.8 .045ABN045wound 29.4 lb13.35 kg131 N+15%
6Eb277.8 .056ABN056wound 25.0 lb11.32 kg111 N−2%
Total152.9 lb69.3 kg680 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Eb standard, 25.5"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5324.2 lb10.98 kg108 N 145.3 lb65.9 kg646 Nloosevery even
Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-5325.0 lb11.35 kg111 N 150.1 lb68.1 kg668 Nlooseeven
11077 (this page) 12-16-24-35-45-5625.5 lb11.56 kg113 N 152.9 lb69.3 kg680 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-5625.5 lb11.56 kg113 N 152.9 lb69.3 kg680 Nloosemoderately uneven
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5325.8 lb11.72 kg115 N 155.0 lb70.3 kg689 Nmediumeven
Elixir 16077 12-16-24-35-45-5626.2 lb11.89 kg117 N 157.3 lb71.4 kg700 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb standard, 25.5"

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

  1. Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 2.3%, average 27.2 lb12.36 kg121 N, very even; same gauges: 11102, 16102
  2. D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 3.8%, average 27.5 lb12.50 kg123 N, very even
  3. Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 5.7%, average 25.8 lb11.72 kg115 N, even; same gauges: 11182

More for the 11077

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

Eb standard 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.

Sources