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

Elixir 12050 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Eb standard 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 Eb standard (Eb4 Bb3 Gb3 Db3 Ab2 Eb2), pulls 97.4 lb44.2 kg433 N in total and 16.2 lb7.36 kg72 N per string on average. That is a medium feel for an electric guitar. The set is moderately uneven (spread 11.9%). String 5 (Ab2) deviates most: +20% from the set average.

Total tension
97.4 lb44.2 kg433 N
Average per string
16.2 lb7.36 kg72 N
Feel
medium
medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string
Set your own preferred feel
Balance
moderately uneven
spread 11.9%

Tension per string

05101520lb02468kg020406080Nset averagemedium (10-46)1Eb4.01014.3 lb6.49 kg64 N2Bb3.01313.8 lb6.27 kg62 N3Gb3.01715.5 lb7.03 kg69 N4Db3.02617.2 lb7.80 kg77 N5Ab2.03619.6 lb8.87 kg87 N6Eb2.04617.0 lb7.71 kg76 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
1Eb4311.1 .010AR010plain 25.5" 14.3 lb6.49 kg64 N−12%
2Bb3233.1 .013AR013plain 25.8" 13.8 lb6.27 kg62 N−15%
3Gb3185.0 .017AR017plain 26.1" 15.5 lb7.03 kg69 N−4%
4Db3138.6 .026ENP026wound 26.4" 17.2 lb7.80 kg77 N+6%
5Ab2103.8 .036ENP036wound 26.7" 19.6 lb8.87 kg87 N+20%
6Eb277.8 .046ENP046wound 27" 17.0 lb7.71 kg76 N+5%
Total97.4 lb44.2 kg433 N

Open in the calculator

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

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

SetGaugesAvg per stringTotalFeelBalance
D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-4616.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.9 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario XSE1046 10-13-17-26-36-4616.1 lb7.32 kg72 N 96.9 lb43.9 kg431 Nmediummoderately uneven
D'Addario EXL110 10-13-17-26-36-4616.2 lb7.34 kg72 N 97.1 lb44.0 kg432 Nmediummoderately uneven
12050 (this page) 10-13-17-26-36-4616.2 lb7.36 kg72 N 97.4 lb44.2 kg433 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 12052 10-13-17-26-36-4616.3 lb7.41 kg73 N 98.0 lb44.5 kg436 Nmediummoderately uneven
Elixir 19052 10-13-17-26-36-4616.3 lb7.41 kg73 N 98.0 lb44.5 kg436 Nmediummoderately uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Eb 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 8.9%, average 15.9 lb7.20 kg71 N, even
  2. D'Addario NYXL1046 10-13-17-26-36-46 deviation 11.0%, average 16.1 lb7.32 kg72 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: XSE1046, EXL110, EPS510
  3. D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 11.7%, average 18.4 lb8.35 kg82 N, moderately uneven; same gauges: EXL115

More for the 12050

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

Eb standard 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