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

Elixir 12050 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Drop C 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 Drop C (D4 A3 F3 C3 G2 C2), pulls 83.6 lb37.9 kg372 N in total and 13.9 lb6.32 kg62 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 13.7%). String 5 (G2) deviates most: +25% from the set average.

Total tension
83.6 lb37.9 kg372 N
Average per string
13.9 lb6.32 kg62 N
Feel
loose
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
uneven
spread 13.7%

Tension per string

051015lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1D4.01012.8 lb5.78 kg57 N2A3.01312.3 lb5.59 kg55 N3F3.01713.8 lb6.27 kg61 N4C3.02615.3 lb6.95 kg68 N5G2.03617.4 lb7.90 kg77 N6C2.04612.0 lb5.45 kg53 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−9%
2A3220.0 .013AR013plain 25.8" 12.3 lb5.59 kg55 N−12%
3F3174.6 .017AR017plain 26.1" 13.8 lb6.27 kg61 N−1%
4C3130.8 .026ENP026wound 26.4" 15.3 lb6.95 kg68 N+10%
5G298.0 .036ENP036wound 26.7" 17.4 lb7.90 kg77 N+25%
6C265.4 .046ENP046wound 27" 12.0 lb5.45 kg53 N−14%
Total83.6 lb37.9 kg372 N

Open in the calculator

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

Similar sets in Drop C, 25.5"–27" multiscale

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4613.9 lb6.29 kg62 N 83.2 lb37.7 kg370 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4613.9 lb6.29 kg62 N 83.2 lb37.7 kg370 Nlooseuneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4613.9 lb6.30 kg62 N 83.4 lb37.8 kg371 Nlooseuneven
12050 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4613.9 lb6.32 kg62 N 83.6 lb37.9 kg372 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-4614.0 lb6.36 kg62 N 84.1 lb38.2 kg374 Nlooseuneven
Elixir 19052 10-13-17-26-36-4614.0 lb6.36 kg62 N 84.1 lb38.2 kg374 Nlooseuneven

Best match for a medium feel in Drop C, 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 EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 8.8%, average 16.5 lb7.48 kg73 N, moderately uneven
  2. Elixir 12100 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.9%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: 12102, 19102
  3. D'Addario EXL115 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 12.5%, average 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: NYXL1149

More for the 12050

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

Drop C on other scales: 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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