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Elixir · POLYWEB Nickel (coated) · 10-13-17-26-36-46

Elixir 12050 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in DADGAD on a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Light (10-46) on an electric guitar with a 25.5"–27" multiscale scale, tuned to DADGAD (D4 A3 G3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 98.9 lb44.8 kg440 N in total and 16.5 lb7.47 kg73 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 21.0%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +33% from the set average.

Total tension
98.9 lb44.8 kg440 N
Average per string
16.5 lb7.47 kg73 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 21.0%

Tension per string

05101520lb025810kg0255075100Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01012.8 lb5.78 kg57 N2A3.01312.3 lb5.59 kg55 N3G3.01717.4 lb7.89 kg77 N4D3.02619.3 lb8.76 kg86 N5A2.03621.9 lb9.95 kg98 N6D2.04615.1 lb6.87 kg67 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
1D4293.7 .010AR010plain 25.5" 12.8 lb5.78 kg57 N−23%
2A3220.0 .013AR013plain 25.8" 12.3 lb5.59 kg55 N−25%
3G3196.0 .017AR017plain 26.1" 17.4 lb7.89 kg77 N+6%
4D3146.8 .026ENP026wound 26.4" 19.3 lb8.76 kg86 N+17%
5A2110.0 .036ENP036wound 26.7" 21.9 lb9.95 kg98 N+33%
6D273.4 .046ENP046wound 27" 15.1 lb6.87 kg67 N−8%
Total98.9 lb44.8 kg440 N

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

Similar sets in DADGAD, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4616.4 lb7.43 kg73 N 98.2 lb44.6 kg437 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4616.4 lb7.43 kg73 N 98.2 lb44.6 kg437 Nmediumuneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4616.4 lb7.44 kg73 N 98.4 lb44.6 kg438 Nmediumuneven
12050 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4616.5 lb7.47 kg73 N 98.9 lb44.8 kg440 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-4616.6 lb7.52 kg74 N 99.5 lb45.1 kg442 Nmediumuneven
Elixir 19052 10-13-17-26-36-4616.6 lb7.52 kg74 N 99.5 lb45.1 kg442 Nmediumuneven

Best match for a medium feel in DADGAD, 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 15.1%, average 16.0 lb7.27 kg71 N, uneven
  2. D'Addario EPS510 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 17.8%, average 15.8 lb7.15 kg70 N, uneven; same gauges: NYXL1046, XSE1046, EXL110
  3. Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 20.3%, average 16.6 lb7.52 kg74 N, uneven; same gauges: 19052, 12050

More for the 12050

Other tunings on 25.5"–27" multiscale: E standard, Drop D, Eb standard, D standard, Drop C, Open G, Open D

DADGAD on other scales: 24.75", 25", 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.

Sources