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

Elixir 11125 (16-18-28-35-45-56) in D standard on a 25" scale

POLYWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) Resonator (16-56) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to D standard (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 D2), pulls 157.8 lb71.6 kg702 N in total and 26.3 lb11.93 kg117 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is uneven (spread 17.2%). String 1 (D4) deviates most: +20% from the set average.

Total tension: 157.8 lb71.6 kg702 N
Average per string: 26.3 lb11.93 kg117 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 17.2%

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	31.5 lb14.30 kg140 N	+20%
2	A3	220.0	.018	AR018	plain	22.5 lb10.19 kg100 N	−15%
3	F3	174.6	.028	ABP028	wound	30.5 lb13.85 kg136 N	+16%
4	C3	130.8	.035	ABP035	wound	26.7 lb12.12 kg119 N	+2%
5	G2	98.0	.045	ABP045	wound	25.2 lb11.43 kg112 N	−4%
6	D2	73.4	.056	ABP056	wound	21.4 lb9.70 kg95 N	−19%
Total						157.8 lb71.6 kg702 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in D standard, 25"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 16077	12-16-24-35-45-56	22.5 lb10.18 kg100 N	134.7 lb61.1 kg599 N	loose	moderately uneven
Elixir 11100	13-17-26-35-45-56	23.3 lb10.58 kg104 N	140.0 lb63.5 kg623 N	loose	very even
Elixir 11102	13-17-26-35-45-56	23.3 lb10.58 kg104 N	140.0 lb63.5 kg623 N	loose	very even
D'Addario EJ17	13-17-26-35-45-56	23.6 lb10.70 kg105 N	141.5 lb64.2 kg630 N	loose	very even
Elixir 16102	13-17-26-35-45-56	24.0 lb10.87 kg107 N	143.8 lb65.2 kg640 N	loose	very even
11125 (this page)	16-18-28-35-45-56	26.3 lb11.93 kg117 N	157.8 lb71.6 kg702 N	medium	uneven

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

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

Elixir 16102 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 11.0%, average 24.0 lb10.87 kg107 N, very even; same gauges: 11100, 11102
D'Addario EJ17 13-17-26-35-45-56 deviation 12.2%, average 23.6 lb10.70 kg105 N, very even
Elixir 11125 16-18-28-35-45-56 deviation 16.9%, average 26.3 lb11.93 kg117 N, uneven

More for the 11125

Other tunings on 25": Eb standard, Drop C, C standard, Open D

D 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.

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.