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Elixir · NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) · 13-17-25-32-42-53

Elixir 11182 (13-17-25-32-42-53) in E standard on a 25" scale

NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze (coated) HD Light (13-53) on an acoustic guitar with a 25" scale, tuned to E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 161.9 lb73.5 kg720 N in total and 27.0 lb12.24 kg120 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an acoustic guitar. The set is even (spread 6.6%). String 1 (E4) deviates most: −4% from the set average.

Total tension
161.9 lb73.5 kg720 N
Average per string
27.0 lb12.24 kg120 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 26.8 lb12.14 kg119 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
even
spread 6.6%

Tension per string

0102030lb051015kg050100150Nmedium (12-53)set average1E4.01326.0 lb11.78 kg116 N2B3.01725.3 lb11.50 kg113 N3G3.02530.8 lb13.96 kg137 N4D3.03228.9 lb13.09 kg128 N5A2.04226.9 lb12.22 kg120 N6E2.05324.0 lb10.91 kg107 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 .013AR013plain 26.0 lb11.78 kg116 N−4%
2B3246.9 .017AR017plain 25.3 lb11.50 kg113 N−6%
3G3196.0 .025ABN025wound 30.8 lb13.96 kg137 N+14%
4D3146.8 .032ABN032wound 28.9 lb13.09 kg128 N+7%
5A2110.0 .042ABN042wound 26.9 lb12.22 kg120 N−0%
6E282.4 .053ABN053wound 24.0 lb10.91 kg107 N−11%
Total161.9 lb73.5 kg720 N

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Similar sets in E standard, 25"

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-5325.7 lb11.67 kg114 N 154.4 lb70.0 kg687 Nloosevery even
Elixir 16052 12-16-24-32-42-5326.1 lb11.85 kg116 N 156.7 lb71.1 kg697 Nmediumvery even
11182 (this page) 13-17-25-32-42-5327.0 lb12.24 kg120 N 161.9 lb73.5 kg720 Nmediumeven
Elixir 11075 12-16-24-35-45-5627.5 lb12.47 kg122 N 164.9 lb74.8 kg734 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 11077 12-16-24-35-45-5627.5 lb12.47 kg122 N 164.9 lb74.8 kg734 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 16182 13-17-25-32-42-5327.9 lb12.64 kg124 N 167.2 lb75.9 kg744 Nmediumeven

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

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 3.2%, average 26.1 lb11.85 kg116 N, very even; same gauges: 11050, 11052
  2. D'Addario EJ16 12-16-24-32-42-53 deviation 3.9%, average 25.7 lb11.67 kg114 N, very even; same gauges: XSAPB1253, XSABR1253
  3. Elixir 11182 13-17-25-32-42-53 deviation 6.7%, average 27.0 lb12.24 kg120 N, even; same gauges: 16182

More for the 11182

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

E 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.

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