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

Elixir 12025 (9-11-16-26-36-46) in E standard on a 26.5" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Custom Light (9-46) on an electric guitar with a 26.5" scale, tuned to E standard (E4 B3 G3 D3 A2 E2), pulls 101.4 lb46.0 kg451 N in total and 16.9 lb7.67 kg75 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 19.3%). String 2 (B3) deviates most: −29% from the set average.

Total tension: 101.4 lb46.0 kg451 N
Average per string: 16.9 lb7.67 kg75 N
Feel: medium; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 19.3%

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	14.3 lb6.48 kg64 N	−16%
2	B3	246.9	.011	AR011	plain	11.9 lb5.42 kg53 N	−29%
3	G3	196.0	.016	AR016	plain	15.8 lb7.16 kg70 N	−7%
4	D3	146.8	.026	ENP026	wound	19.5 lb8.82 kg87 N	+15%
5	A2	110.0	.036	ENP036	wound	21.6 lb9.81 kg96 N	+28%
6	E2	82.4	.046	ENP046	wound	18.4 lb8.33 kg82 N	+9%
Total						101.4 lb46.0 kg451 N

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Similar sets in E standard, 26.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL0946	9-11-16-26-36-46	16.7 lb7.59 kg74 N	100.4 lb45.5 kg447 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EXL125	9-11-16-26-36-46	16.8 lb7.61 kg75 N	100.6 lb45.6 kg448 N	medium	uneven
12025 (this page)	9-11-16-26-36-46	16.9 lb7.67 kg75 N	101.4 lb46.0 kg451 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 12027	9-11-16-26-36-46	17.0 lb7.72 kg76 N	102.1 lb46.3 kg454 N	medium	uneven
Elixir 19027	9-11-16-26-36-46	17.0 lb7.72 kg76 N	102.1 lb46.3 kg454 N	medium	uneven
D'Addario EPS510	10-13-17-26-36-46	17.8 lb8.07 kg79 N	106.8 lb48.4 kg475 N	medium	even

Best match for a medium feel in E standard, 26.5"

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

D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 6.5%, average 17.8 lb8.07 kg79 N, even; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
D'Addario EXL110BT 10-13.5-17-25-34-46 deviation 6.5%, average 18.1 lb8.23 kg81 N, very even
Elixir 12050 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 12.8%, average 18.5 lb8.40 kg82 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12052, 19052

More for the 12025

Other tunings on 26.5": Drop D, Open G

E standard on other scales: 25.5", 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.