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Elixir · POLYWEB Nickel (coated) · 9-11-16-26-36-46

Elixir 12025 (9-11-16-26-36-46) in E standard on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Custom Light (9-46) on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 100.2 lb45.4 kg446 N in total and 16.7 lb7.57 kg74 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 22.3%). String 2 (B3) deviates most: −32% from the set average.

Total tension
100.2 lb45.4 kg446 N
Average per string
16.7 lb7.57 kg74 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 22.3%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nset averagemedium (10-46)1E4.00913.2 lb6.00 kg59 N2B3.01111.3 lb5.13 kg50 N3G3.01615.3 lb6.94 kg68 N4D3.02619.3 lb8.76 kg86 N5A2.03621.9 lb9.95 kg98 N6E2.04619.1 lb8.65 kg85 N
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.
#NoteHzGaugeItemType Length Tensionvs avg
1E4329.6 .009AR009plain 25.5" 13.2 lb6.00 kg59 N−21%
2B3246.9 .011AR011plain 25.8" 11.3 lb5.13 kg50 N−32%
3G3196.0 .016AR016plain 26.1" 15.3 lb6.94 kg68 N−8%
4D3146.8 .026ENP026wound 26.4" 19.3 lb8.76 kg86 N+16%
5A2110.0 .036ENP036wound 26.7" 21.9 lb9.95 kg98 N+31%
6E282.4 .046ENP046wound 27" 19.1 lb8.65 kg85 N+14%
Total100.2 lb45.4 kg446 N

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Multiscale (fanned frets): string lengths change linearly from 25.5" (treble) to 27" (bass).

Similar sets in E standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL0946 9-11-16-26-36-4616.5 lb7.49 kg73 N 99.1 lb45.0 kg441 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL125 9-11-16-26-36-4616.6 lb7.51 kg74 N 99.3 lb45.1 kg442 Nmediumuneven
12025 (this page) 9-11-16-26-36-4616.7 lb7.57 kg74 N 100.2 lb45.4 kg446 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12027 9-11-16-26-36-4616.8 lb7.62 kg75 N 100.9 lb45.7 kg449 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19027 9-11-16-26-36-4616.8 lb7.62 kg75 N 100.9 lb45.7 kg449 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-4617.5 lb7.93 kg78 N 104.9 lb47.6 kg467 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in E standard, 25.5"–27" multiscale

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

  1. D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 7.3%, average 17.8 lb8.08 kg79 N, even
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 7.6%, average 17.5 lb7.93 kg78 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. Elixir 12050 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 14.3%, average 18.2 lb8.26 kg81 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12052, 19052

More for the 12025

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: Drop D

E standard on other scales: 25.5", 26.5", 27", 28"

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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