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

Elixir 12050 (10-13-17-26-36-46) in Open D on a 25.5" scale

POLYWEB Nickel (coated) Light (10-46) on an electric guitar with a 25.5" scale, tuned to Open D (D4 A3 F#3 D3 A2 D2), pulls 91.1 lb41.3 kg405 N in total and 15.2 lb6.89 kg68 N per string on average. That is a loose feel for an electric guitar. The set is uneven (spread 19.0%). String 5 (A2) deviates most: +32% from the set average.

Total tension: 91.1 lb41.3 kg405 N
Average per string: 15.2 lb6.89 kg68 N
Feel: loose; medium ≈ 17.1 lb7.76 kg76 N per string; Set your own preferred feel
Balance: uneven; spread 19.0%

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	D4	293.7	.010	AR010	plain	12.8 lb5.78 kg57 N	−16%
2	A3	220.0	.013	AR013	plain	12.0 lb5.46 kg54 N	−21%
3	F#3	185.0	.017	AR017	plain	14.8 lb6.71 kg66 N	−3%
4	D3	146.8	.026	ENP026	wound	18.0 lb8.17 kg80 N	+19%
5	A2	110.0	.036	ENP036	wound	20.0 lb9.08 kg89 N	+32%
6	D2	73.4	.046	ENP046	wound	13.5 lb6.13 kg60 N	−11%
Total						91.1 lb41.3 kg405 N

Open in the calculator

Similar sets in Open D, 25.5"

Set	Gauges	Avg per string	Total	Feel	Balance
D'Addario NYXL1046	10-13-17-26-36-46	15.1 lb6.85 kg67 N	90.6 lb41.1 kg403 N	loose	uneven
D'Addario XSE1046	10-13-17-26-36-46	15.1 lb6.85 kg67 N	90.6 lb41.1 kg403 N	loose	uneven
D'Addario EXL110	10-13-17-26-36-46	15.1 lb6.86 kg67 N	90.8 lb41.2 kg404 N	loose	uneven
12050 (this page)	10-13-17-26-36-46	15.2 lb6.89 kg68 N	91.1 lb41.3 kg405 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 12052	10-13-17-26-36-46	15.3 lb6.93 kg68 N	91.7 lb41.6 kg408 N	loose	uneven
Elixir 19052	10-13-17-26-36-46	15.3 lb6.93 kg68 N	91.7 lb41.6 kg408 N	loose	uneven

Best match for a medium feel in Open D, 25.5"

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

D'Addario EXL115BT 11-15-19-28-37-50 deviation 13.7%, average 17.9 lb8.11 kg80 N, uneven
D'Addario NYXL1149 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 16.1%, average 17.2 lb7.80 kg77 N, uneven; same gauges: EXL115
Elixir 12102 11-14-18-28-38-49 deviation 17.1%, average 17.5 lb7.94 kg78 N, uneven; same gauges: 19102, 12100

More for the 12050

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

Open D on other scales: 24.75", 25", 26.5", 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.