Elixir · POLYWEB Nickel (coated) · 9-11-16-24-32-42

Elixir 12000 (9-11-16-24-32-42) in Drop D on a 25.5" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Super Light (9-42) on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Drop D (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 82.8 lb37.6 kg368 N in total and 13.8 lb6.26 kg61 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 13.8%). String 2 (B3) deviates most: −20% from the set average.

Total tension: 82.8 lb37.6 kg368 N
Average per string: 13.8 lb6.26 kg61 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 13.8%

Tension per string

The bronze dashed line is the medium-feel target: the average per-string tension of a 10-46 set on a 25.5" scale in E standard (17.1 lb7.76 kg76 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	E4	329.6	.009	AR009	plain	13.2 lb6.00 kg59 N	−4%
2	B3	246.9	.011	AR011	plain	11.1 lb5.01 kg49 N	−20%
3	G3	196.0	.016	AR016	plain	14.6 lb6.63 kg65 N	+6%
4	D3	146.8	.024	ENP024	wound	16.0 lb7.26 kg71 N	+16%
5	A2	110.0	.032	ENP032	wound	16.0 lb7.26 kg71 N	+16%
6	D2	73.4	.042	ENP042	wound	11.9 lb5.40 kg53 N	−14%
Total						82.8 lb37.6 kg368 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Drop D, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
Elixir 12002	9-11-16-24-32-42	13.7 lb6.22 kg61 N	82.2 lb37.3 kg366 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 19002	9-11-16-24-32-42	13.7 lb6.24 kg61 N	82.5 lb37.4 kg367 N	loose	uneven
12000 (this page)	9-11-16-24-32-42	13.8 lb6.26 kg61 N	82.8 lb37.6 kg368 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 12025	9-11-16-26-36-46	15.1 lb6.84 kg67 N	90.4 lb41.0 kg402 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 12027	9-11-16-26-36-46	15.2 lb6.88 kg67 N	91.0 lb41.3 kg405 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 19027	9-11-16-26-36-46	15.2 lb6.88 kg67 N	91.0 lb41.3 kg405 N	loose	uneven

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

Ranked by how close every string is to 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N (lower deviation is better).

D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 9.2%, average 16.2 lb7.35 kg72 N, moderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.4%, average 16.5 lb7.49 kg73 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EPS510
Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.8%, average 16.7 lb7.55 kg74 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 19052, 12050

More for the 12000

Other tunings on 25.5": E standard

Drop D on other scales: 26.5", 27", 28", 25.5"–27" multiscale

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 ±3% on single strings.
Elixir Strings Product Catalog (consumer, 07/2026) (2026-11-01): set part numbers and gauges.