Elixir · POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 16-18-28-35-45-56

Elixir 11125 (16-18-28-35-45-56) in Open D on a 25.5" scale

POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Resonator (16-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Open D (D4 A3 F#3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 182.1 lb82.6 kg810 N in total and 30.4 lb13.77 kg135 N per string on average. That is a tight feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is uneven (spread 14.0%). String 1 (D4) deviates most: +8% from the set average.

Total tension: 182.1 lb82.6 kg810 N
Average per string: 30.4 lb13.77 kg135 N
Feel: tight; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 14.0%

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	D4	293.7	.016	AR016	plain	32.8 lb14.87 kg146 N	+8%
2	A3	220.0	.018	AR018	plain	23.4 lb10.61 kg104 N	−23%
3	F#3	185.0	.028	ABP028	wound	35.7 lb16.18 kg159 N	+17%
4	D3	146.8	.035	ABP035	wound	35.0 lb15.89 kg156 N	+15%
5	A2	110.0	.045	ABP045	wound	33.0 lb14.98 kg147 N	+9%
6	D2	73.4	.056	ABP056	wound	22.2 lb10.09 kg99 N	−27%
Total						182.1 lb82.6 kg810 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Open D, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 16077	12-16-24-35-45-56	26.3 lb11.92 kg117 N	157.7 lb71.5 kg702 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 11100	13-17-26-35-45-56	27.2 lb12.32 kg121 N	163.0 lb73.9 kg725 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 11102	13-17-26-35-45-56	27.2 lb12.32 kg121 N	163.0 lb73.9 kg725 N	medium	moderately uneven
D'Addario EJ17	13-17-26-35-45-56	27.5 lb12.46 kg122 N	164.9 lb74.8 kg733 N	medium	moderately uneven
Elixir 16102	13-17-26-35-45-56	27.9 lb12.68 kg124 N	167.7 lb76.1 kg746 N	medium	uneven
11125 (this page)	16-18-28-35-45-56	30.4 lb13.77 kg135 N	182.1 lb82.6 kg810 N	tight	uneven

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

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

Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 9.0%, average 25.6 lb11.63 kg114 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11182
Elixir 11100 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 11.4%, average 27.2 lb12.32 kg121 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 11102, 16102
D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.1%, average 27.5 lb12.46 kg122 N, moderately uneven

More for the 11125

Other tunings on 25.5": Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, C standard, B standard

Open 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.

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.